NEWS
Theater students perform well at SETC, earn jobs
Tech theater students who attended the Southeastern Theatre Conference earned more than audience applause. Eight of the 10 who were seeking employment also walked away with jobs.
The SETC, held in Lexington, Ky. this spring, is the largest theater convention in the United States, drawing more than 4,000 participants.
“Typically over 100 professional companies are there auditioning, interviewing and hiring for both summer and full-time employment,” said Paul Crook, an assistant professor of performing arts. “Theater practitioners from high school to Broadway and everywhere in between make SETC an exciting and vibrant week-long event.”
Ken Robbins, a professor and director of the School of Performing Arts, said he is proud of the way the students represented Tech and themselves in their professional activities.
“They are dedicated and well-prepared to provide exceptional service to employers,” Robbins aid. “This has proven to be the case year after year as our students, through the audition process at the Southeastern Theatre Conference and other venues, continue to achieve the highest levels.”
Students who attended the conference included:
•Matt Bass, of Greenwood, S.C., who received his B.A. in theater in May, earned a summer contract with Horn in the West for acting/technical and a one-year full-time acting contract with Lexington Children’s Theatre touring company.
•Ansley Bice, of Lexington, Ky., who received her M.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract acting and teaching at California Theatre Centre.
•Andrew Cogswell, of Waltersboro, S.C., who received his M.A. in theater in May, earned a summer contract for acting/technical at Horn in the West.
•Nichole Dickey, of Ruston, who received her M.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract as a costume shop manager for the Nashville Ballet.
•Tim Dickey, of Tahlequah, Okla., a master’s student in theater, earned a summer contract as production manager with Stage Door Manor.
•John Keenan, of Easley, S.C., who received his M.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract as a technical director and scenic designer at California Theatre Centre.
•Noelle Smith, of Tyler, Texas, a master’s student in theater, earned a summer contract with Summerstock Theatre in Findlay, Ohio.
•Jami Windham, of Shreveport, who received her B.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract as an actor with the Missoula Children’s Theatre.
Other theater students who participated in SETC included Keive Gordon, of Ty Ty, Ga.;
Jake Guinn, of Ruston; Andrew Ray, of Lexington, Ky.; Stacy Trammel, of Ruston; and Laura Weil, of West Monroe.
Crook, who prepares students for their professional auditions, said he continues to be impressed at how successful Tech’s students are.
“When I came to Tech 5 years ago, we had had students participate some at SETC in the past, but not in large numbers,” he said. “Since arriving, I have really pushed our students to attend and we have had a terrific success rate – typically having at least 80 percent of our students who attend find jobs. It’s a credit both to our faculty and our students that they do so well. Our program stresses preparing students for professional careers in theater, and it shows when they go to these events.”
The SETC, held in Lexington, Ky. this spring, is the largest theater convention in the United States, drawing more than 4,000 participants.
“Typically over 100 professional companies are there auditioning, interviewing and hiring for both summer and full-time employment,” said Paul Crook, an assistant professor of performing arts. “Theater practitioners from high school to Broadway and everywhere in between make SETC an exciting and vibrant week-long event.”
Ken Robbins, a professor and director of the School of Performing Arts, said he is proud of the way the students represented Tech and themselves in their professional activities.
“They are dedicated and well-prepared to provide exceptional service to employers,” Robbins aid. “This has proven to be the case year after year as our students, through the audition process at the Southeastern Theatre Conference and other venues, continue to achieve the highest levels.”
Students who attended the conference included:
•Matt Bass, of Greenwood, S.C., who received his B.A. in theater in May, earned a summer contract with Horn in the West for acting/technical and a one-year full-time acting contract with Lexington Children’s Theatre touring company.
•Ansley Bice, of Lexington, Ky., who received her M.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract acting and teaching at California Theatre Centre.
•Andrew Cogswell, of Waltersboro, S.C., who received his M.A. in theater in May, earned a summer contract for acting/technical at Horn in the West.
•Nichole Dickey, of Ruston, who received her M.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract as a costume shop manager for the Nashville Ballet.
•Tim Dickey, of Tahlequah, Okla., a master’s student in theater, earned a summer contract as production manager with Stage Door Manor.
•John Keenan, of Easley, S.C., who received his M.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract as a technical director and scenic designer at California Theatre Centre.
•Noelle Smith, of Tyler, Texas, a master’s student in theater, earned a summer contract with Summerstock Theatre in Findlay, Ohio.
•Jami Windham, of Shreveport, who received her B.A. in theater in May, earned a one-year full-time contract as an actor with the Missoula Children’s Theatre.
Other theater students who participated in SETC included Keive Gordon, of Ty Ty, Ga.;
Jake Guinn, of Ruston; Andrew Ray, of Lexington, Ky.; Stacy Trammel, of Ruston; and Laura Weil, of West Monroe.
Crook, who prepares students for their professional auditions, said he continues to be impressed at how successful Tech’s students are.
“When I came to Tech 5 years ago, we had had students participate some at SETC in the past, but not in large numbers,” he said. “Since arriving, I have really pushed our students to attend and we have had a terrific success rate – typically having at least 80 percent of our students who attend find jobs. It’s a credit both to our faculty and our students that they do so well. Our program stresses preparing students for professional careers in theater, and it shows when they go to these events.”
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