Theatre Students Take Top Honors at Recent Theatre Conference; Headed to State Competition

“To be, or not to be”…it’s not a question for a select group of Reinhardt students. They choose “to be” a part of the University’s growing and flourishing theatre program, and they are “acting” upon the benefits.

At the recent Georgia Theatre Conference in Americus, Ga., 10 Reinhardt students competed with a field of 174 college and university students for a chance to audition at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) next March in Louisville, Ky. Five Reinhardt students made the cut: (from right-left) Sophie Decker, a junior from Conyers, Ga.; Levi Penley, a junior from Social Circle, Ga.; Troy Stephens, a senior from Kingsland, Ga.; Koby Parker, a senior from Douglasville, Ga.; and Kate Johnson, a junior from Canton, Ga., who had the highest competitive score of the entire conference.

Top 10% in Competition

“Kate Johnson’s score was the highest at the GTC—meaning in the entire state of Georgia!” said David Nisbet, assistant professor of theatre. “All the Reinhardt students that were passed on to SETCs scored in the top 10% at GTC. I think this is exciting news for the theatre/music program at Reinhardt!”

GTC Background

GTC is the Georgia branch of SETC (Southeastern theatre conference). SETC culminates in professional theatres attending and auditioning college students, usually for summer theatre work. To advance to SETC auditions, you must attend and audition at GTC and receive a high enough score to move on. Students are judged on talent and presentation, and are allowed to do a monologue and song (90 seconds) or a monologue (60 seconds).

“It’s an invaluable experience!”

“Our students participate in GTC and SETC for a variety of reasons,” said Nisbet. “They can attend the many learning workshops presented by professionals and top professors in theatre, they have the opportunity to network with professionals and their own peers, and they get preparation for the audition process they will experience in major markets. It’s an invaluable experience for all theatre students.”

Theatre Program Background

Reinhardt’s theatre program is designed to be an intensive professional-style training program, within a liberal arts setting. A Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre are offered through the program. The program’s first theatrical production of the year, Almost, Maine, was November 2-4, 2012.

For more information, please contact Nisbet at 770-720-5860 or reinhardttheatre@gmail.com, or visit Reinhardt University Theatre Program on Facebook.