Lincoln College students awarded for performances in 'Woyzeck'

[June 08, 2013]  Lincoln College theater students have once again been selected for a prestigious national award. Following the spring semester production of the play "Woyzeck," two of the cast members, Bobby Wilhelmson and Kristin Craig, were nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship.

The students' portrayals of Woyzeck and Andres were judged by a college theater professor who was sent by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival to view the play.

Bobby Wilhelmson hails from Colorado and is enrolled in the baccalaureate theater program at Lincoln College. He played the title character in "Woyzeck," a role he described as the toughest character he had ever portrayed. "My character had to go from a very troubled individual to a person in the throes of insanity," he said. He plans to stay in theater after his graduation from LC.

Kristin Craig, known as "Wednesday" to her friends, is from Hanover Park and is also enrolled in the LC baccalaureate program. Her role as Andres in "Woyzeck" was a difficult one. "It is a very interesting character, basically Woyzeck's only friend. I had to reach a happy medium between the menace of the character and Woyzeck's friend, willing to listen to him," she said. She also intends to remain in the theater after graduation.

Their nominations mark the second production in the spring theater schedule at Lincoln College in which students received Ryan Scholarship nominations. Wilhelmson and Craig will travel to Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan in January 2014 along with fellow LC actresses Elizabeth Jaegle and Lauren Stanfield, who received nominations for their roles in the play "Trojan Women." There the performing arts students will compete in the regional finals for the Ryan Scholarship, which is awarded to outstanding college student performers.

The Irene Ryan Foundation was founded in 1972 by actress Irene Ryan, who had a distinguished career in television, cinema and stage. The recipients of the scholarship may use it to pursue their education regardless of degree.

Over 1,300 plays are entered in the Kennedy Center competition each year, and the competition is fierce. The Lincoln College Theatre Department continues to shine as attested by the prestigious awards bestowed on the program in national competition. The college continues to present challenging plays that bring out the best in the student actors and provide great entertainment for area residents.

[By CURT FOX]