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Wednesday, January 09, 2002

By Christopher Rawson, Post-Gazette Drama Editor

Pittsburgh did itself proud in the awards given out at the regional finals of the Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival XXXIV that came to a close late Monday after five exhausting days.

The ultimate event was the Irene Ryan contest for individual actors (named for the distinguished actress who ended her career as Granny on "Beverly Hillbillies"). Of 16 finalists chosen from 180 entrants, Joshua Potter, Marcus Stevens and Beth Hersey are Pittsburgh students, and all placed among the winners.

Overall winners, who will go on to the April finals at Kennedy Center along with competitors from the other seven regions, were Potter, a Point Park College sophomore, and Dennis Setteducati from Suffolk Community College. The alternate was Hersey, University of Pittsburgh senior. The two other acting awards went to Miranda Scopel (best scene partner) and Sarah Easterling (best classical scene).

In addition, Dawn Wells, a festival judge (and famous as Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island"), awarded two scholarships to her Film Actors' Boot Camp, both to Point Park students, Stevens and Rebecca Kaufman (Potter's scene partner).

Among many design and technical awards, Pitt's Sarah Andrews was named an alternate Barbizon Award winner for designs for "Silent Spring" and Point Park won the Truck Award for most efficient put-up and take-down of a set. The theater critics' institute chose Kelly Howe of Muhlenberg College as the regional winner to go on to Washington and compete for a scholarship to the summer criticism program at Connecticut's O'Neill Theater Center.

Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University and its indefatigable Dick Block, the festival drew nearly 900 students and faculty from college theater departments throughout the mid-Atlantic states. Point Park College's "Grand Hotel" was one of five full-scale productions invited, and by common consensus it shared honors with Juniata College's "The Body of Mystery: Meditations on Body and Spirit." Whether any production from this area goes on to Washington will be determined by comparison with those at regional finals still to be held.

"Grand Hotel" was named one of Pittsburgh's best productions of 2001 at any level in the Post-Gazette year-end list. Director Nikki Harris returned for the last few days to help Point Park staff resurrect the show, and the cast recaptured it in fine style.

Conceived by Andrew Belser, "Body of Mystery" is a collage of passages from the Bible and ancient and modern poets, stretched on a framework derived from the medieval mystery plays. It's like a youthful, naive version of the brilliant "Mysteries" cycle at London's National Theatre -- and that's high praise. Performed at noon Sunday by a small cast in an intimate atmosphere of discovery, wonder and celebration, it was uplifting.

Add energy and excitement and you have a pretty good idea what the ACTF is all about.