Fourteen theatre students from Howard Payne University recently won awards at the Christian University Theatre Festival at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. The company performed a rendition of the Pulitzer-prize winning play Picnic.
HPU senior Rivers Shotwell, of Grand Saline, and freshman Hannah Jansen, of Erie, Colorado, won Outstanding Achievement in Acting awards for their performances. Additionally, the company won an Outstanding Achievement in Makeup award.
Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, head of HPU’s Department of Theatre and director of the play, was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement as Festival Performer award.
“I was so proud of our students and delighted that they were recognized as outstanding,” Humfeld said. “The award I received was just a reflection of their fine work. This is a great group of young people who worked together well as an ensemble. We had a wonderfully productive trip which was both educational and enlightening. I am so very proud of each of them.”
Other members of the cast included Katelyn Bare, a sophomore from Aledo; Katie Dobson, a junior from Rowlett; Audrey Harris, a sophomore from Early; Josh Helms, a senior from Lindale; Tucker Hull, a sophomore from Brownwood; Jared Russell, a sophomore from Hillsboro; Phoenix Solis, a junior from Brownwood; Alex Taliaferro, a freshman from Springtown; and Dorie Walton, a freshman from Lolita. Crew members included Harris; Ben Palmer, a sophomore from Van; Chris Phelps, a senior from Brownwood; Jarrod White, a sophomore from Ben Wheeler; and Nicholas Ewen, assistant professor of theatre.
