YSU Theater performs at invitation-only Kennedy Center festival

Youngstown State University students involved in the fall production of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” on campus were selected to perform the show at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Region II, part of a national collegiate theater program.

Matthew Mazuroski, associate professor of Theater and Dance and director of the YSU production, said the comedy was one of just seven university theater presentations selected to be performed at the annual festival Jan.16 to 20 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” was chosen based on reviews of 400 university theater performances across the region, which includes Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Western New York, Northern Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The cast and crew of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” presented the play twice during the event. Cast members included: Fall 2017 graduate Molly Lukehart; seniors Mason Edmunds, Theresa Leonard, Elena Loedding and Jack Rusk; sophomore Abigail Kremm; and junior Makenzie Moorman.

Student projection designer Miles Garrett, student stage manager Sarah Dubos and faculty costume designer Katherine N. Garlick received Certificates of Merit for the production.

Three Theater and Dance faculty – assistant professors Chris Hill, Katherine Garlick and Maria Fenty Denison – presented workshops at the event.

Seven YSU students – Mason Edmunds, Brooke Nobbs, Leah Tekac, Ann Marie Lowerre, Rusk, Kremm and Loedding – were chosen to participate in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships program for acting excellence. In addition, Aislinn Lowry was selected for inclusion in the Musical Theatre Initiative Cabaret and Rosie Bresson was a finalist.

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival is a national theater program involving 20,000 students and more than 700 colleges and universities nationwide that aims to improve the quality of college theater in the United States.