Lone Star College-North Harris theatre students just returned from the state level competition of the American College Theatre Festival recently hosted at San Jacinto College South. LSC-North Harris was one of ten colleges and universities participating from a five-state region.  

"The American College Theatre Festival experience is an integral part of our students' education and growth towards becoming working artists," says Cash Carpenter, LSC-North Harris program chair and drama professor.  

Theatre students had the opportunity to participate in workshops offered in the areas of Stunt Work and Props Design. They also had numerous opportunities to discuss and learn from theatre professionals in various disciplines from throughout the country, including the festival respondents who were faculty members at Keene State College in New Hampshire and California State University in Fresno California.

 "Four students and one staff member also participated on the festival's Honor Crew, which assists each school to load their production into (and out of) the performance space," says Carpenter. "In doing so, they gained invaluable hands-on experience in the fields of scenic construction, lighting, and rigging.  Aside from San Jacinto College South (the host school), LSC-North Harris had more students on the Honor Crew than any other participating college or university."

The theatre program at LSC-North Harris was honored with numerous awards and was recognized as one of the top schools in the competition. 

In total, Lone Star College-North Harris received 14 awards. The college as a whole received the Respondent's Choice Award for Advancement to the Regional Competition for the production of "Death and Harry Houdini" and the Excellence in Festival Coordination recognition. There were three nominees for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition: Darwin Gilmore for Harry Houdini; Amanda Vennebush for Bess Houdini; and Bryan Powell for Theo, Houdini's Brother. Four awards were given in the Excellence in Honor Crew participation category: Joel Bradshaw, Darwin Gilmore, Jeff Quintanilla and Amanda Vennebush. Receiving the Excellence in Honor Crew Set/Sound was Brandi Hargrove with the Excellence in Lobby Display going to John Cash Carpenter and Stephen Blaschke. The Excellence in Lighting Design was given to Darwin Gilmore, while Ashely Ginn received the Excellence in Stage Management award.

For more information about the LSC-North Harris Theatre Program, call Professor Carpenter at 281.765.7963.

Lone Star College-North Harris is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 E, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit: NorthHarris.LoneStar.edu.

Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. It is the largest college system in the Houston area, and third largest community college district in Texas. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

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Nov. 21, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            

Media Contact:
C.C. Sutphen
281.618.5425, desk
281.639.6581, cell