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Mount honored by Kennedy Center

Courtesy photo Mount Aloysius students sing out during a recent performance of the Kennedy Center acclaimed “Songs for a New World.” Shown are (from left): Nathan Smith, Lewis Run; Rebecca Ryan, Ithaca, N.Y.; Veronica Scott, Hillsdale.: Rachel Haywood, Quakertown; (at center), Kylee Snyder, New Paris; and Hannah Holt, Falls Creek.

CRESSON — The Mount Aloysius College Theatre received a certificate of merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for its use of American Sign Language interpreters during their production of “Songs for a New World.”

That recognition was the first of three earned from the college’s recent run of “Songs for a New World” given by the prestigious Kennedy Center.

Mount Aloysius theater director Nathan Magee noted that three student actors later competed for the Irene Ryan Scholarship. These regional scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the late Irene Ryan who is best remembered for her portrayal of Granny Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Mount Aloysius students Courtney Moyer of Ashville, Jordan Morrison of Oxford and Rachel Mackrell of Olyphant each picked partners and performed at KCACTF competition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

In addition, the college was asked to stage and perform two scenes from “Songs for a New World” at the KACACTF Fringe Festival from Jan. 16 to 20 at IUP.

“It’s a real honor to be asked to perform two of our scenes from this musical,” Magee said. “We put much thought into the selection of this important play,” he said.

“‘Songs for a New World’ is about people dealing with important decisions in their life,” he said. “Their life’s turning points, if you will. There is no discourse more important than that we have with ourselves, and the play is about people trying to be authentic and honest in these sometimes dire situations in which they find themselves — in the truest sense of that phrase. The play fits incredibly well with the college’s 2017-18 campus-theme of ‘Authentic Discourse.'”

The invitation to perform two scenes from “Songs for a New World” at the Fringe Festival came about through nominations by regional respondents during the year.

Scenes are chosen for specific theatrical elements which the respondents felt would broaden the scope of offerings at the festival and which show ambitious performance styles and unusual aesthetics.

Performances this year took place on Jan. 18 in IUP’s McViddy Hall.

The 16 songs of “Songs for a New World,” by Jason Robert Brown each tells a story. Each title is linked thematically with an overall theme of exploration and choice.

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