Lipscomb Theatre recognized at 2024 First Night Awards
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb artists were recently recognized in the 35th Annual First Night Awards, which pay tribute to Nashville’s most outstanding personalities and productions.
Awards are given in a variety of categories for plays and musicals presented each year. Each category includes both academic theater programs, such as those from local colleges and universities, and professional theaters, including Nashville Repertory Theatre, Studio Tenn, Nashville Shakespeare Festival and Nashville Children’s Theatre among others.
In this year’s competition, Lipscomb Theatre was reviewed for the 2023 productions of Pride and Prejudice, An Enemy of the People and Big Fish. Lipscomb productions, faculty and students were nominated for 31 awards, including 12 for Big Fish and seven for Pride and Prejudice. Lipscomb took home 12 awards.
“Earning recognition in the First Night Awards is significant as our productions are evaluated against professional companies as well as quality academic programs in the area. These awards carry significant clout in Nashville,” said Beki Baker, chair of the Department of Theatre and associate professor. “We are very proud of our students, alumni and faculty who earned awards this year. Our program showed well with earning awards and having been nominated for even more. Lipscomb’s reputation as having a top-tier theater program continues to grow in Nashville and across the country.”
Pride & Prejudice
Earning Most Promising Actor Awards were Connor Adair, Bryce Dunn, Cleo Graham, Victoria Griffin, Max Hunkler, Jackson Thomas-Clark Martin, Nate Mann and Abi Williams. Andy Bleiler, assistant professor of theatre, received the First Night Star Award. Emma Rose Willamson took home the award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical for Studio Tenn’s production of Million Dollar Quartet. Jonathan Thompson earned the Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play award for his performance in Lipscomb Theatre’s presentation of Pride and Prejudice. Baker received the Outstanding Director of a Musical Award for her direction of 9 to 5: The Musical, produced by Nashville Repertory Theatre.
Lipscomb’s Department of Theatre is a mentor-based professional training program committed to preparing students for a career in theatre through rigorous artistic training and an enriching liberal arts education in a Christ-centered community offering a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts programs. Students have the opportunity to learn from theatre faculty who are experienced professionals and to collaborate with Nashville professional theatre companies. Learn more at www.lipscomb.edu/theatre. For more information about remaining productions this semester, visit www.lipscomb.edu/theatre/current-season.