Lauren Stanfield, left, and Elizabeth Jaegle |
Lincoln College, Lincolnite actresses gain spotlight for Irene Ryan
scholarship tryout
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[April 17, 2013]
When Professor Kenneth Kendall
selected the play "The Trojan Women" for Lincoln College's spring
production, he knew the content and dialog of the ancient play would
present challenges to his actors and technical personnel. The show
presented in February required Kendall to inspire his cast and crew
to reach new levels of expertise to pull it off.
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If you saw the show during its run, you were treated to college
theater at its best. And now, that is not just the opinion of
audience members. Lincoln College has received notice that two of
the actresses who appeared in "The Trojan Women" have been nominated
for a national college acting award. Prior to the performance,
Kendall contacted the Kennedy Center American College Theater
Festival in Washington, D.C., to send a representative to judge the
show. Jenni Passig from Eastern Illinois University attended and
awarded nominations for the prestigious Irene Ryan Foundation
scholarships to cast members Elizabeth Jaegle and Lauren Stanfield.
Jaegle played Cassandra and Stanfield portrayed Hecuba in the
technically demanding play. Both actresses are Lincoln residents,
graduates of Lincoln Community High School and in their freshman
year at Lincoln College.
Stanfield is enrolled in the Lincoln College baccalaureate
program in performing arts. Her intention is to pursue a career in
acting.
"'Trojan Women' was a challenge to me," Stanfield said. "The
tragedy portrayed in the play was outside my comfort zone."
Jaegle is enrolled in the LC general education program and is
interested in pursuing a career in animation.
"'Trojan Women' was overwhelming," Jaegle said, "especially
getting the pronunciations in the dialog correct." Her normally
upbeat personality had to be set aside to become immersed in the
tragedy and horror of war.
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The Irene Ryan Foundation was created by actress Irene Ryan.
Ryan, while best known for her portrayal of Granny on the television
show "The Beverly Hillbillies," had a long and distinguished career
in television, cinema and the stage. The Irene Ryan Foundation has
awarded scholarships to outstanding student performers since 1972.
Upon winning the scholarship, the student may use it to pursue any
degree at a university or college, not just theater.
Stanfield and Jaegle have been nominated for the Ryan Scholarship
in Region III of the Kennedy Center American College Theater
Festival. In January 2014 they will travel to Saginaw Valley State
University in Michigan to compete in the regional finals. Each will
be given five minutes to present a monologue and perform a scene
with an acting partner of their choice. Winners of the regional
competition will then participate in the national competition in
Washington, D.C.
The Irene Ryan Foundation nominations for Jaegle and Stanfield
are affirmation of their acting accomplishments. Even more, the
nominations show the esteem in which the Lincoln College theater
program is held in the college theater world.
[By
CURT FOX]
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