2011 is looking good for MCC-Blue River's theatre troupe

MCC-Blue River theater instructor and program director, Anne Mahoney, is excited about the upcoming spring semester and some wonderful possibilities for her theatre students in 2011.

Fresh off their fall production of “The Brave Little Tailor,” an adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, written by Brian Guehring, Mahoney is thrilled to announce that their adaptation has been entered into the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) scheduled later this spring. The KCACTF is a national theatre program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide.

MCC-Blue River’s production was entered as an associate production. As part of the troupe’s participation in festival activities, the performers and crew received
an on-site visit and response from a KCACTF representative following one of their shows last fall. That was the first step in their participation in KCACTF. The actual festival is scheduled for Feb. 21-27 and Mahoney hopes the students will get the chance to attend again this year and participate in the many workshops offered. For the last six years, theatre students have participated in both national and local festivals across the nation.

“The festival is a great opportunity for students to learn from master teachers, interact with students from other colleges and see all aspects of the theatre,” said Mahoney.

Irene Ryan Scholarship
The KCACTF hosts a scholarship in the name of the late actress Irene Ryan, most famously known as Granny from television show The Beverly Hillbillies.

The Irene Ryan Scholarship is designed to provide “recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education.” Two MCC-Blue River students, Mike Brown and Lee Roberts, were chosen to be Irene Ryan Scholarship actors.

“It’s a thrilling year, indeed, for the entire theatre department!” said Mahoney, who is celebrating her 20th year at Blue River and 18th year of leading student productions.

For more information on MCC-Blue River’s theatre program or upcoming performances, call 604.6676 or visit http://mcckc.edu/blueriver/culturalarts/annemahoney2.html.