Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe earns prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival honors

'Carmela Full of Wishes' recognized for outstanding acting and production

November 7, 2023

The Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe (BBTT) earned three acting award nominations and five meritorious honors for their work on “Carmela Full of Wishes” at the 2023 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF).

KCACTF is a national play festival that allows university and community college theatre programs an opportunity for individual recognition and critique from theatre professionals.

BBTT’s festival entry, “Carmela Full of Wishes,” is an adaptation of the children’s book by the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor-winning team of author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson. Directed by Theatre Arts Instructor Dr. Eveleen Nasir, the story follows young Carmela’s dreamlike journey with her brother through her neighborhood on her sixth birthday.

Irene Ryan Award nominees were Seth Arroyo as Big Brother, Karenza McRae as an ensemble cast member, and Lizzete Velez as Carmela.

Meritorious Awards went to Augustus Cosby, sound design; Mackenzie Owens, prop design; Fabián Santana, acting; and Ashley Wienecke, stage management.

Irene Ryan acting nominations provide recognition and honor to outstanding student performers wishing to further their theater education. Meritorious Achievement Awards are for students and faculty who go beyond the collaborative process in a production.

KCACTF involves more than 200,000 students nationwide. The organization strives to recognize, reward, and celebrate exemplary work produced in college and university theaters across the nation.

The BBTT’s production of “Carmela Full of Grace” drew a total audience of approximately 450 attendees. The troupe also presented the show to four area Girl Scout troops totaling around 100 scouts.

The BBTT’s next show is “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” featuring performances Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 28-30, at 7 p.m. on the Blinn-Bryan Campus and Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in downtown Bryan during First Friday.

Tickets for all shows will be available at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice.

To learn more about the BBTT’s season or Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program, visit www.blinn.edu/theatre or contact Greg Wise at [email protected].