(December 14, 2010, New Orleans, La.) - The University of New Orleans’ spring 2010 production of Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana has accepted an invitation to perform at the 2011 Region VI Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). Iguana is one of six productions selected to perform for the six-state region festival.
The aims of KCACTF are to identify and promote quality college-level theatre production. A series of state and regional festivals culminate with a national festival each April, held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Louisiana is a part of KCACTF’s Region VI, which includes Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana.
The Night of the Iguana was one of only 24 productions across the six-state region considered for this honor. Theatre UNO’s production of An Experiment with an Air Pump was also one of the 24 under consideration. This year, the festival will take place February 22-26 in Amarillo, Texas. The last Theatre UNO production selected to perform at a Region VI Festival was the 2007 production of Katrina’s Path.
In addition to The Night of the Iguana, Theatre UNO will also be represented by six Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominees – Natalie Boyd, Chrissy Garrett and Caroline Langlois for The Night of the Iguana and Caleigh Quirin, Jennie Freeman and Michael Krikorian for An Experiment with an Air Pump.
Since 1972, the Irene Ryan Foundation of Encino, California, has awarded scholarships to the outstanding student performers at each regional festival. The Irene Ryan Scholarships provide recognition, honor and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education.
The work of UNO student designers will also be on display. Adeana Gamble will present her work as Stage Manager and Lindy Bruns for Properties Design, both for The Night of the Iguana. Mignon Charvet will present her work as Costume Designer and Michael Krikorian for Properties Design, both for An Experiment with an Air Pump.
Additionally, Blair Runion will be featured at the festival for her original play, A Long Low Whistle in the Distance. The play was selected as a region finalist for the National Ten Minute Play competition.