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Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
6/3/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - More than 35 Northwestern State University theatre students, faculty and alumni are practicing their craft in 21 different summer stock productions or university programs around the country, according to NSU Artistic Director Dr. Jack Wann.
"Our whole philosophy of theatre is that participation is the key. You learn by doing it in the trenches," said Wann. "Experience comes from training to a great extent."
Working in Fort Worth are Annie Fackler, Darcy Malone, Lindsay Hand, Kelly Songe and Patty Breckenridge, who is guest starring as Eliza in "My Fair Lady." Guy Davis and Mike Mayhall are at Maine Shakespeare while Ryan Butler, Hector Guivas and Brandon Mitchell will work at Tecumseh in Ohio.
Henry Layton is at The Legend of Daniel Boone in Kentucky, Robin Armstrong is involved with the Black/White Theatre in Dallas and Brett Daigle and Lane Noland will appear at Seaside in Daytona, Fla. Six students and alumni are in North Carolina this summer, Damian Dominque and Kristine Eckermann at Flat Rock, John Shamburger and Dawn Shamburger at North Carolina - Greensboro and Kim Lam and Courtney Payne at Greenville.
Jordan Paul is at Courtland State in New York, Melissa Borders and Shelley Ford will be working with the Southern Illinois University Theatre. Paul Arcuri, Abe Mourning and Clare Adams will be involved in productions in Steamboat Springs and Colorado Springs, Colo. Sammy Brewster will be part of the Hampstead Players in New Hampshire, Laura West will be with the cast "Unto These Hills" while Larry Bright and Correy West will be in "Young Abe Lincoln." Sharon Foster will work at Jekyll Island, Ga. Leah Dunn, Shelli Babin, Kelvin Payton and Melissa Randall will be at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Several alumni will be part of touring companies. Heather Child will be on an East Coast tour with Bravo Productions, Abby Bowden will join the Alpha-Omega Tour, Angel Guidroz will tour with a Milwaukee-based group will Stephanie Hodgdon and Aaron Moreland will be with the American Family Theatre.
"Any experience our students, alumni or faculty can get that broadens their experience is helpful. They work with different actors, staff and directors and nothing broadens their training like that," said Wann. "It also provides networking opportunities which is a vital part of the business."
Several former students are active in New York and Los Angeles. Jeff Williams, DeAnna Gonzales, Mitch Melder, Randy Long and David Shamburger are in New York and will be joined by Leigh Anne Bramlett in July. P.J. Davis, Deven McNair, Ryan Glorioso, Doug Lowry, Jonathan Wallace, Allen Walker and Cory Rouse are now in Los Angeles.