CSUF Students Win National Awards In Washington D.C. Theatre Competitions

California State University, Fullerton captured the spotlight in the nation's capital this past week as CSUF actor Jason Brian Buuck walked away with top honors in the National Irene Ryan National Acting Contest and Sarah Annette Opstad won the National Mehron Makeup Design Award at Kennedy Center festivities in Washington D.C. Both students competed against hundreds of schools and thousands of other students in a year long adjudication of university theatre productions throughout the nation. CSUF scene design student Matthew Scarpino also competed in the festival as a regional finalist. The American College Theatre Festival was conducted April 27-May1.

Mr. Buuck is a graduating MFA in theatre arts-acting student at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), who most recently performed in Hotel Paradiso, Twelfth Night, Our Town, and Three Sisters at CSUF. The Irene Ryan Foundation was established in 1971 to award scholarships to the most talented student actors playing in the Kennedy Center/ACTF and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the scholarship program. Mr. Buuck will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Mr. Buuck's award-winning scene partner was CSUF student Sarah Kruger.

Ms. Opstad competed for the national Mehron Makeup Design Award against students from Middlebury College in Vermont, Colorado State University, Western Washington University, the University of Southern Alabama, Southwest Oklahoma State University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

According to Susan Hallman, chair of CSUF's Department of Theatre and Dance, "This has been an exciting and gratifying week for the department as our students continue to garner regional and national praise and awards for their accomplishments on California State University, Fullerton productions. They bring honor to our department and to our university."

For additional information, contact
Dr. Jim Volz, CSUF Theatre and Dance
Telephone (714) 278-3538 FAX (714) 278-7041
EMAIL: jvolz@fullerton.edu