News Release

Southeastern Theatre wins top honors at Kennedy Center Festival


Contact: Tonya Lowentritt

3/4/10



     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre’s production of “Parking Lot Babies,” an original play written by Southeastern student Zach Boudreaux of Walker, recently won the highest honor at the regional round of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, hosted by Amarillo College and the city of Amarillo Feb. 23-27. 
     “Parking Lot Babies,” directed by Southeastern Theatre Assistant Professor James Winter, won the “National Selection Team Choice” award at the regional festival, placing it into consideration for presentation at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. If selected, the play would be performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in April. “Parking Lot Babies” was the only production from the regional festival to receive this honor.  
     The selection places the production among the top 12 university theatre productions in the United States for 2009-2010. This marks the first time Southeastern has been nationally recognized by the Kennedy Center. 
     “I am continually dazzled by the talent and dedication of our theatre students and faculty, who with this honor have confirmed what many have already noticed: our theatre program more than holds its own against larger and longer-established theatre programs in the nation,” said David Evenson, head of the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts. “A special comment must be reserved for Zach Boudreaux, who in his auspicious debut as a playwright has contributed a vital addition to the theatre repertory with his brilliant play ‘Parking Lot Babies.’”
     Southeastern garnered several other awards at the regional festival. Boudreaux received an “Excellence in Playwriting” award; sophomore Amanda Klipsch was recognized for “Meritorious Achievement in Graphic Design;” and the university was recognized for “Excellence in Theatrical Production” and “Excellence in Support of Original Works.”
     “Our students have achieved something nearly impossible. A group of undergraduates from a non-major program in a state ravaged by budget cuts to higher education managed to dominate the regional theatre festival and found themselves among the elite in the nation,” Winter said. “This is like making it to the Final Four in college basketball. Any student connected with this production should be extremely proud of this incredible accomplishment.” 


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