Blinn-Brenham's 'Children of Eden' receives Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival awards

Production earns five meritorious achievement awards

November 26, 2024

The Blinn College Theatre Arts Program’s Brenham Campus production of “Children of Eden” has won five Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) meritorious achievement awards.

The musical, staged November 21-24 at the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center, featured standout performances and innovative production work. These achievements were evaluated by Pia Wyatt, Professor of Theatre and Dance and Associate Director of Theatre at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Wyatt also serves as Vice Chair for Region VI of KCACTF.

Meritorious Achievement Awards designated by Wyatt were:

• Theatre Arts Instructor Jennifer Patrick, Excellence in Choreography;
• Eric Cruz, who served as student Stage Manager and Properties, Excellence in Stage Management;
• Technical Theatre Arts Director Kevin Patrick, Excellence in Lighting and Projections Design;
• Cast and crew ensemble, Excellence in Dedication and Execution;
• Theatre Arts Director Brad Nies, Excellence in Staging. Nies directed the production.

Meritorious Achievement Awards recognize students and faculty who exceed expectations in the collaborative theatre process.

Cast members Aliana Hernandez and Paige Stewart earned Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominations, which recognize outstanding performances by students who wish to further their theatre education. Hernandez portrayed dual roles as Eve and Mama Noah, while Stewart played Yonah.

Hernandez and Benedite Trecy received Musical Theatre Initiative Awards, which recognize outstanding musical theatre students and provide opportunities to work with musical theatre professionals. Trecy portrayed Aphra in the production.

The Kennedy Center Theatre Festival is a prestigious national theatre program that involves more than 1,500 productions entered each year.

“By sharing this production, the Blinn College-Brenham Theatre Arts Program is sharing in the KCACTF goals to recognize, reward, and celebrate the exemplary work produced in college and university theatre across the nation,” Nies said.

“Children of Eden” attracted approximately 400 people to its four public performances, while high school preview performances drew an additional 150 students.

The theme for Blinn’s 2024-25 Brenham Campus theatre season is “Plays of Biblical Proportions.” Remaining shows are:

• “James and the Giant Peach,” 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 21, and 2 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23;
• and “God’s Favorite,” 7 p.m. May 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. May 3 and 4.

All performances are at the O’Donnell Center at 600 Blinn Boulevard. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for Blinn students and children. They are available online at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice, by calling 979-830-4024, or emailing [email protected].

Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program cultivates a quality educational foundation of study, application, and experience through a wide range of performance, technical, and production studies. Its Associate of Arts degree plan integrates artistic, technical, and academic disciplines of theatre from the classroom to the stage. Students have an opportunity to audition for a variety of performances related to drama and theatre and are prepared to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/theatre.