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The Kingsley Colton Award for Outstanding Partner

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

A special $500 scholarship, TheKingsley Colton Award, is also given to the actor named Best Partner. The scholarships are paid by the foundation directly to the institution of the student's choice and are not restricted to the study of theater arts. Each of the performers has chosen his or her own material and partner. Each finalist is limited to six minutes on stage.

2009

Laura Stephenson, University of Oklahoma, Partner to Jordan Brodess

2008

Courtney Howe, California State University - Fullerton, Partner to Adam Navarro

2007

Joe Calarco, California State University - Fullerton, Partner to Adam Navarro

The National Stage Combat Workshop Fellowship

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

Initiated in 1992, KCACTF and the Society of American Fight Directors will again offer a fellowship to one of the Irene Ryan Acting Award national finalists to attend the 2000 National Stage Combat Workshop.

Taking place for three weeks each summer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the National Stage Combat Workshop involves intensive study in many aspects of the art of stage combat. The NSCW provides the stage combat student with the opportunity to study with SAFD fight masters, the top professional fight directors in the country. The workshop includes up to eight hours of daily instruction from four SAFD fight masters. Intensive instruction is provided in rapier and dagger, smallsword, broadsword, quarterstaff, and unarmed stage combat. All weapons are provided. At the close of the workshop, the student has the opportunity to take the SAFD actor/combatant skills proficiency test.

A representative of the Society of American Fight Directors will serve as an Irene Ryan national respondent and will select the recipient of the SAFD fellowship.

2009

Marketta Wilder, Illinois State University

2008

James Jelkin, University of Nebraska at Kearney

2007

Roger Casey, Montclair State University, Partner to Jon Barker

2006

Cheyenne Christian, University of Wyoming

2005

Rusty Tennant, University of New Orleans

2004

Kim Stauffer, University of N. Carolina, Greensboro

2003

Jarred Kjack, California State University-Fullerton

Classical Acting Award of Excellence

The National Partners American Theatre (NAPAT) is an organization of individuals and institutions dedicated to helping support the activities of the next generation of theatre artists. NAPAT is a separate organization from KCACTF; however many of our members have long-standing ties with KCACTF and each year through the mechanism of the KCACTF Festivals the Partners fund a variety of Scholarship Awards.

NAPAT believes that the best acting stems from a classical base, and this award was created to encourage and reward Excellence in Classical Acting. For purposes of this award classical selections shall be defined as dramatic material written prior to the 20th century.

The award will be a two-week, expense-paid internship at the prestigious Shaw Festival in Ontario, Canada. The recipient will have the opportunity to see Festival productions, attend rehearsals, and work directly with directors, fight choreographers, and other creative staff. This award is funded through contributions by members of the National Partners and is co-sponsored by the Shaw Festival. The Shaw Festival – with a permanent company of professional actors, directors and designers – is the only theatre in the world specializing exclusively in plays by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries.

Judges from both the National Partners and the Shaw Festival will select the recipient of this award from among this year's Irene Ryan Audition finalists.

2010

Kimberly Fairbanks, Villanova University

2009

Winner - Jordan Brodess, University of Oklahoma

Runner up - Edward Zaboroskie, Columbus State University

2008

Meredith Hinckley, California State University - Fullerton

2007

Kelly Crump, Western Illinois University

2006

Brandon Petrie, California State University

2005

Kelly C. Henton, Dillard University

2004

Joseph Hutcheson, University of Florida

Williamstown Theatre Festival Apprenticeship

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

A representative from the Williamstown Theatre Festival will serve as a national judge at the Irene Ryan Winners’ Circle Evening of Scenes and will select an actor of color to receive the annual KCACTF Williamstown Theatre Festival Apprenticeship. This scholarship is made possible by the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Everett Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance for minority applicants to the annual Apprentice Workshop.

Located on the campus of Williams College in the Berkshire hills of northwestern Massachusetts, the Williamstown Theatre Festival has acquired a national reputation for the artists it attracts and the gifted young actors, designers and directors it sends out into the world. Over 2,000 individuals have completed the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Apprentice Workshop. Santo Loquasto, Kate Hudson, Christopher Reeve, Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Jason Leigh all started their careers as WTF apprentices.

Apprentices alternate workshop classes and rotating production assignments. The apprentice will take intensive courses in acting, voice and movement, present scenes in progress and attend special seminars with guest and resident artists in acting, design, directing and playwriting. The apprentices also work in the theater’s scenes shop, publicity department, box office, production, administration and costumes. In eleven weeks, the apprentice will gain a thorough first-hand knowledge of the operation of a first-class professional theater

2010

Matt Mercurio, University of Florida

2009

Patrick Johnson, Adelphi University

2008

Johnathan Hooks, University of Oklahoma

2007

Adam Navarro, California State University – Fullerton

2006

Ryan Nearhoff, California State University- Fullerton

2005

No Award Given

2004

Ray Muñoz

2003

Charlie Hudson III, Alabama State University- Montegomery

The Mark Twain Comedy Acting Awards

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

The Mark Twain Comedy Acting Award will be presented to an Irene Ryan Acting Award national finalists each spring. A cash award of $2,000 will be given for the best comic performance in the National Irene Ryan Evening of Scenes. Founded in 1999 and supported by Comedy Central, Inc. the award has as its primary goal to foster the finest in comic acting on the national level.

2010

Cody Strand, University of South Dakota

2009

Tyler Michaels, Minnesota State University - Moorhead

2008

Peter Macy, University of Central Missouri

2007

Chris Crawford, University of Arkansas

2006

Winner- Stephanie Lovell, University of Wyoming,

2nd place (tie) Ben Elledge, University of Minnesota- Deluth Rory Lipede, Fontbonne University

2005

Winner- Michele L. Egerton, Fitchburg State University

2nd place- Ricardo Ferreiro, Suffolk County Community College

2004

Winner- Ben Elledge, University of Minnesota- Deluth

2nd place- Christopher Grant, University of Evansville

2003

Winner-Kunal Nayyar, University of Portland

2nd Place - Charlie Hudson III, Alabama State University- Montgomery

The Margolis Method Summer Intensive Acting Fellowship

Awarded to two finalists of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

KCACTF is pleased to announce the creation of the Margolis Method Summer Intensive Acting Fellowships that will be awarded to two Irene Ryan National finalists

The Margolis Method Summer Intensive offers a seven-day study of the performer's physicality as the basis for expression and gives the performer a muscular vocabulary with which to create physical dramatic art. Through this rigorous physical and vocal technique, performers broaden their expressive range and garner the skills that allow them to create meaningful original theater productions that place the actor at the center of the creative process. In a demanding yet supportive atmosphere, this class fosters artists’ ensemble awareness and improvisational skills. Inspired by the work of Decroux, Grotowski and Brecht, the Margolis Method reflects 25 years of research. All classes are taught by Kari Margolis, and are held at the Margolis Brown Theater Company's new Historic Landmark building in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

With the physical actor at the center of the creative process, the Margolis Brown Theater Company merges other media to create a modern theater of spectacle and celebration that is rich in metaphor, one that grabs an audience both emotionally and intellectually and affects them for a long time afterwards. The Company's research centers on the dramatic force and emotion that emanates from an actor's physicality.

Kari Margolis will serve as an Irene Ryan National Judge and will select the two fellowship recipients.

Margolis Brown Theater Company

2010

Keylee Koop, Texas State University

2009

Matt Englund, Minnesota State University - Moorhead

2008

Matt Gorkis, Illinois State University

2007

Kacey Musick, University of Southern Mississippi

2006

Matthew Renskers, Ball State University

2005

Eric Riedmann, Western Washington University

Jackie Mickel, Western Washington University

2004

Matthew Myer, UMD Baltimore County

2003

Marilyn Torres, Adelphi University

The Sundance Theatre Lab Acting Fellowship

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

The Sundance Theatre Laboratory Acting Fellowship is awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program. The Sundance Theatre Laboratory is a three-week long workshop which offers playwrights, directors, choreographers, composers, solo performers, and ensembles the time, space, and support to develop new plays and musicals or to explore new approaches to existing scripts. The Lab provides a protected environment, without the pressures of production, and an ensemble of professional actors and resource artists to help shape work. The Sundance Theatre Laboratory is held in July at Sundance in Utah. Projects rehearse every day and actors are usually double cast. The KCACTF Sundance fellow will be part of the acting ensemble for the three-week workshop. Room, board, and transportation are provided. A representative from the Sundance Institute will serve as an Irene Ryan national judge and will select the Sundance acting fellowship recipient.

Sundance Theatre Laboratory

2007

Melody Betts, Western Illinois University

2006

Stephani Aguilar, Montclair State University

2005

Elise Link, University of Missouri- Columbia

2004

Jason Roth, UMD Baltimore County

2003

Kunal Nayyar, University of Portland

The TVI Actors Studio Career Enrichment Awards

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is pleased introduce a new educational partner by announcing the first annual Career Enrichment Awards sponsored by TVI Actors Studio. Nine full tuition scholarships to the TVI Summer Professional Acting Program in Los Angeles will be awarded: One Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship finalist or her/his partner in each region will receive a full tuition scholarship and one national finalist or her/his partner will receive a full tuition scholarship plus airfare and lodging. The national winner will also receive a one-year regional membership to TVI Actors Studio.

TVI’s Summer Professional Actor Training Program offers a unique opportunity for a select group of actors to study the craft and the business of acting with prominent industry professionals in America’s busiest entertainment markets-Los Angeles and New York City. Students are housed on the UCLA or NYU campus and train at TVI Actors Studio with industry professionals including producers, directors, talent agents, casting directors and faculty members from prominent theatre schools across the country.

A representative from TVI Actors Studio will select the recipients of the Career Enrichment Awards.

2006

Ben Hope, University of Central Florida

2005

Desmond Newsom, University of Central Florida

2004

Larry Herron, Western Michigan University

2003

Jeremy Clark, Purdue University

VASTA Award for Vocal Excellence in Performance

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

VASTA's Award for Vocal Excellence in Performance is presented in recognition outstanding of acting and voice work. Recipients are awarded a $500 scholarship and a year's membership in VASTA, the Voice and Speech Trainer's Association.

VASTA is an international organization dedicated to advancing the highest standards of voice and speech use and artistry in all professional arenas. VASTA promotes the concept that the art of the voice and speech specialist is integral to the successful teaching of acting and to the development of all professional voice users.

2010

Kelly Rogers, Savannah College of Art and Design

2009

Paul Stuart, University of Oklahoma

2008

Adam Navarro, California State University - Fullerton

2007

Kelli D. Crump, Western Illinois University

2006

Allan Mayo, Jr.

2005

Desmond Newsom, University of Central Florida

2004

Jennifer Leigh

2003

Jason McBeath

2002

J. Salome Martinez

The Dell'Arte Professional Training Program Scholarship/ Mad River Festival Fellowship

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

KCACTF is delighted to offer the Dell'Arte/Mad River Festival Fellowship to be awarded to an Irene Ryan national finalist or partner. Dell'Arte International is a unique organization devoted to the art of the actor/creator and to the development of Theatre of Place. Dell'Arte, located in Pacific redwood region of Northern California. Blue Lake has become an American center for the exploration, performance, training and development of physical performance, attracting students from all over the world. Fellows will take daily classes offered by resident faculty and master classes by the international guest artists in residence for the Mad River Festival.

2010

Matthew Bagley, Western Connecticut State University

Kimberly Fairbanks, Villanova University

2009

Tyler Michaels, Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Philip Ozazio, University of Portland

2008

Ashley Kobza, University of Nebraska at Kearney

2007

Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, University of Wyoming

The Shakespeare Theatre Acting Fellowship

Awarded to a national finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Program

The Shakespeare Theatre, Michael Kahn- Artistic Director, will offer a full-season Acting Internship with the company to an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominee or partner. The internship includes housing and a stipend. The Shakespeare Theatre, the United States' Premiere Classical Theatre, provides a unique opportunity for up to eight actors to participate in the full theatrical season of plays, in addition to classes and workshops with company members and guest artists. Acting interns receive training in text, voice & speech, Alexander Technique, acting Shakespeare and stage combat, in addition to performance experience.

2010

Matthew McGee, California State University, Fresno

2009

Paul Stuart, University of Oklahoma

2008

Adam Navarro, California State University - Fullerton

2007

Chris Crawford, University of Arkansas