Shelli DeRobertis
Staff Writer
Three student actors from the University of La Verne were selected based on their performances in “Waiting for Godot” to audition for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.
They compete for $500 regional scholarships at Maricopa Community Colleges in Phoenix, Arizona, the first week of February 2005.
Anthony Guerrero, Christopher Smith and Nasir Najieb have the chance to become one of two top actors chosen from each of the eight participating regions.
The winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival XXXVII Region VIII Competition.
The two national winners at KCACTF will receive an additional $2,500 scholarship.
Smith, a junior, said he chose to attend ULV “specifically for the theater we have here, and for the faculty and environment.”
It’s a decision he is glad he made. His complements extend to each theater arts faculty member individually, and he appreciates the help and experience they give him.
“The faculty at this school is involved and wants you to do your best,” Smith said.
When “Godot” was performed last semester, different judges were present during the last three nights of the play, according to Smith who played the character Vladimir.
These judges critiqued the students’ performances and chose the nominees.
Elizabeth Pietrzak, theater technical director, shared the news with the nominated students by handing them their invitations to audition for the Ryan scholarship.
“The first thing I did when I got the letter is called my dad,” Smith said. “He was excited and I really see it as a huge thing.”
Najieb, who played Pozzo in “Godot,” is a recent graduate of ULV, with a bachelor of arts in theater.
Upon receiving the news of his nomination, he said,”It’s great. It’s a good thing to have the opportunity to show your work and perform.”
Guerrero was nominated for his performance of Estragon, and is also a junior.
He just recently changed his major to theater, but has been acting for about three years, he said.
“I want to set myself apart. I want to put forth the absolute best I can do,” Guerrero said, thinking he may do a monologue for the upcoming audition. “I might do something a little abstract, maybe something a little bit farcical.”
Regional winners who are selected to perform at KCACTF may also bring an acting partner.
“It would be someone I have chemistry with,” Guerrero said. “The kind of person you can create fireworks with on stage.”
The Irene Ryan scholarships have been awarded since 1972 and made possible by the generosity of the late Irene Ryan. She is best remembered for her character Granny Clampett in the 1960s series “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
When the series ended, Ryan established a trust fund to award scholarships to outstanding theater arts students.
Shelli DeRobertis can be reached at sderobertis@ulv.edu.
