BELLINGHAM - The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) 2008 National Selection Team recognized Western Washington University students Dylan Heister and Jordan Melin for their performances in the play "Convention" at the Region VII Conference held in February at the University of Wyoming.
"Convention," a play written by WWU alumnus Dan Erickson and directed by Patrick Dizney, of WWU's theatre faculty, was one of five productions from the region invited to participate. It is the story of four men who work for a box manufacturing company. The workers, who eat, sleep and work in the factory, begin to question the outside world and their roles in it. As they become more daring in their search for the truth, restrictions are placed on them by the company and the death toll mounts as they attempt to escape.
Heister, a WWU theatre major who plans to graduate in December of 2009, was recognized by KCACTF for his performance as Andy, an ordinary office worker who begins to question his dreary, controlled environment.
"Andy is searching for answers to questions that unravel the world around him," said Heister. "He is often the straight man to balance out the other wildly colorful characters of the show."
Melin, a theatre major who will graduate this June, was recognized for his performance as Dutch, a hothead with no understanding of personal and emotional boundaries who pushes the buttons of other office workers.
"I could never ask for a more powerful experience than ‘Convention,'" said Melin. "Every day of that production brought tears of laughter and sadness to anyone watching."
KCACTF is a national organization that encourages, recognizes and celebrates the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theatre programs. Region VII includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Colorado and Wyoming.
For more information, contact Patrick Dizney at (360) 650-2206 or Patrick.Dizney@wwu.edu.