Theatre UAB awarded national honors at KCACTF

Student Rebecca Harper and graduate Markeitra Gilliam won a national directing fellowship and physical theater training scholarship, respectively.

big loveStudents in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Theatre and the company’s production of “Big Love” were honored with national awards by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

The performance residencies, awards and scholarships were presented April 18-19 at the national festival in Washington, D.C.

Rebecca Harper of Valley Head is one of two students selected for the Kennedy Center and National New Play Network MFA Playwrights’ Workshop/Directing Intensive, presented by the KCACTF in conjunction with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. The eight-day intensive, from July 26-Aug. 4, is held at the Kennedy Center and provides participants the opportunity to observe and work with a professional director as they guide a development-based rehearsal room, and the chance to meet one-on-one with the director to discuss the rehearsal process and the participant’s own work.

Spring 2014 graduate Markeitra Gilliam of New Orleans, La., won the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre Training Program Scholarship. She was selected from among students in all eight regional festivals. The one-year, certificate-granting training program in Blue Lake, Calif., runs from October through mid-June.

Renita Lewis of Birmingham, who played Thyona in Theatre UAB’s production of “Big Love,” was one of four students awarded Distinguished Achievement by an Actress. The cast of “Big Love” was among four companies honored with a Distinguished Ensemble Achievement award.

Theatre Chair Kelly Allison, MFA, congratulated the students on their national honors.

“We’re very proud of UAB theater majors who continue to receive recognition from the Kennedy Center for their outstanding accomplishments,” Allison said.