|
NACC Theatre: Preparing Students for
Careers in Theatre
People may ask -- What happens in the theatre department at
Northeast Alabama Community College? In addition to affordable
plays, we strive to send students on toward distinguished
careers in theatre. We are not just a college or community
theatre; we are a learning theatre. As a part of that learning
process, we have provided many opportunities this year to
prepare students for their futures. In September six students
traveled to Montgomery to participate in auditions sponsored by
the Alabama Conference of Theatre in preparation for the
regional Southeastern Theatre Conference. Of the six students,
three (Brenton Bellomy, Chad Meeks, & Whitney Rooks) were passed
on to compete at the regional level against 1,000 other college
theatre students for various theatrical jobs around the country.
These students also had the opportunity to see a production of
Crowns at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
In October four students attended a mass theatre scholarship
audition also sponsored by the Alabama Conference of Theatre. As
transfer students they had the advantage of auditioning against
high school students for all the college theatre programs in the
state. They competed against 100 other high school/community
college theatre students. All four students received
scholarships through the auditions. Of note were the $1000
scholarships they each received to the University of Alabama at
Birmingham. In addition to these $1000 scholarships, two of the
four (Brenton Bellomy & Taylor Campbell) have each received an
additional $8000 Phi Theta Kappa scholarship to UAB. The Phi
Theta Kappa scholarship recognizes excellent academic
achievement. In addition to the students competing for
scholarships, they also represented NACC by sharing their
experiences with high school students considering attending
NACC.
In February eight students from NACC Theatre attended a College
Preview Day offered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
This day included a personal tour of the facilities, lunch with
the theatre department’s Head of Performance, and a presentation
of a main stage student directed work. The students attending
the preview day were from many backgrounds including two high
school students, one current NACC drama scholarship student, one
graduating NACC scholarship student, and four students who will
be attending UAB on theatre scholarship.
In March nine students travelled to the Southeastern Theatre
Conference (SETC) in Chattanooga, TN. Three of those students
auditioned with approximately 900 other college students for
over 100 companies who were seeking performers for their theatre
companies. All three students received requests for further
interviews for paid theatre positions with companies such as RWS
& Associates of New York, Peach State Summer Music Theatre of
Georgia, Encore Theatre of Chattanooga, Unto These Hills of
North Carolina, Texas Musical Drama of Texas, and Sight and
Sound Theatre of Pennsylvania.
All of the students who attended the convention were able to
take advantage of the opportunities offered at SETC including
hundreds of workshops, highly acclaimed speakers, commercial &
college exhibits, and several play festivals. Top ranked theatre
professionals led workshops ranging from fun improvisational
workshops to panel discussions with other theatre professors
regarding the changing face of college theatre.
In addition to the wide array of activities available, three of
our students, Megan Baugh of Fyffe, Justin Beasley of
Albertville, and Cody Moore of Pisgah, volunteered to work at
the many events the convention offers. Through volunteering
these students attended the convention in lieu of paying
registration fees. We were honored to have our volunteers chosen
from NACC out of the hundreds of applicants who wanted these
positions.
In addition to the activities of our current theatre students,
many of our former students have continued pursuit of careers in
theatre. Jason Keef, a 2004 graduate, finished his bachelor’s
degree on theatre scholarship at the University of Alabama last
spring, and he has spent the past year pursuing an acting career
in Los Angeles. He was most recently seen on an episode of CSI:
Miami. Additionally, Alex Brouwer, a 2005 graduate, is
completing her bachelor’s degree at Birmingham Southern College
on theatre scholarship. She recently attended the Edinburgh
Fringe Festival, an international theatre festival in Scotland,
where five students presented an original work by a BSC
instructor. She also attended SETC looking for jobs in theatre,
and at press she has been offered two paid positions in theatre
costuming. Also attending Birmingham Southern on scholarship are
other former participants/graduates of NACC Theatre: Whitney
Glover (transfer scholarship), Marie Hunt (theatre scholarship),
and Brent Zapf (theatre, transfer, and music scholarship).
Eric Shankles and Daniel Byrd, 2004 graduates, are currently
working with Sight and Sound Theatre in Pennsylvania which is
one of the largest Christian theatres in the nation inspiring
over 800,000 guests a year. Daniel and Eric both serve as Deck
Electricians, and Eric has recently added Show Control Operator
to his title. Jessica Richards finished her bachelor’s degree on
theatre scholarship at the University of Alabama last spring,
and she has spent the past year pursuing a Master’s Degree in
Education at Jacksonville State University. Chase Moore, a 2006
graduate, also attends Jacksonville State University, and he is
on theatre scholarship pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Brittany Flory, a 2006 graduate, attends the University of North
Alabama on theatre scholarship, and she will be graduating in
May with her theatre degree. She has recently worked as Stage
Manager for the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and she hopes
to begin a full time paid internship as a Production Assistant
in West Palm Beach this fall. Billy Ray Brewton, a 2003
graduate, currently works in Birmingham with his own theatre
company, Theatre Downtown, and he does production work and
writing for Digital Motion Pictures. Brent Zapf will be
graduating from Birmingham Southern in December with a Theatre
Arts degree, and he will be working this summer with Texas
Musical Drama in Amarillo. He will be starring in “Texas”, a
musical pageant of historical events in the Panhandle area of
Texas, is staged in an amphitheater at the bottom of Palo Duro
Canyon, using the canyon walls as a back drop. Brenton Bellomy
and Whitney Rooks, 2008 graduates, have also been offered summer
jobs in theatre. Brenton will begin work with Unto These Hills
theatre in North Carolina, and Whitney has been offered a summer
job with Peach State Summer Music Theatre of Valdosta, Georgia.
At NACC theatre we train students to embrace their passions, and
we help them to achieve their goals. Conferences such as SETC
provide our students the opportunity, training, and experience
to become effective communicators and become successful in the
demanding world of theatre. The wide array of professional
audition opportunities offered at NACC gives students the
training to face tough auditions for scholarships, roles, or job
interviews. Exposure to four year institutions gives the
students an opportunity to dream of the future that theatre
could afford them if they choose. The theatre students and
faculty acknowledge the contributions and support of Dr. David
Campbell, NACC President and the faculty and staff, as well as
the NACC Theatre Guild founded by Susan Metcalf.
If you are interested in the NACC Theatre, please call 638-4418
or 228-6001, ext. 218, or go to www.nacc.edu and click on
“Theatre.”
Pictured at the UAB theatre are (L-R) NACC
Theatre Office Manager Regan McClung, Chris Phillips of
Sylvania, Whitney Rooks of Centre, Cody Moore of Pisgah, Judy
Nicole Kirby of Pisgah, Carra Estrada of Geraldine, Devin
Kennamer of Henagar, Brenton Bellomy of Scottsboro, Taylor
Campbell of Arab, and NACC Theatre Director Mark Webb.
 |
