UNA STUDENTS COMPETE, REACH SEMIFINALS IN NATION THEATER COMPETITION
Feb. 19, 2008
by Rebecca Walker
UNA Student Writer
FLORENCE, Ala. – Two University of North Alabama students recently competed in the American College Theater Festival’s Irene Ryan Acting Competition in Clemson, S.C.
Freshman theater majors Michael Baldwin, of Birmingham, and Andrew Maxwell, of Rogersville, finished in the semifinal round of competition, which placed them in the top 32 pairs among more than 200. The pair performed scenes from two plays: one from “The Diviners” and one from “Lorene, Lorene, Lorene James,” written by UNA adjunct instructor of communications and theater Charlton James.
Baldwin was nominated through the American College Theater Festival for his November 2007 performance at UNA as Tiresias in Sophocles’ “Antigone.” He chose Maxwell as his teammate for the competition.
“This is a really big honor, especially since they are freshmen and have never been to the competition before,” said Angela Green, assistant professor of communications and theater.
The duo competed against much larger departments and schools than UNA as well as some graduate students, according to Green.
Baldwin can next be seen in UNA’s staging of “Don’t Drink the Water,” a play by Oscar-winning writer and director Woody Allen, which will be directed by James. The play is scheduled for March 13-16.
“My ultimate goal is to one day act in movies,” Baldwin said. “That what I’m working toward.”
