WT’s ‘Alice by Heart’ Nets 10 Awards in National Theater Festival

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University Theatre’s regional premiere of the musical “Alice by Heart” scored multiple awards in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Tori Ybarra, a sophomore musical theatre major from Austin, and Bella Bailey, a junior musical theatre major from Little Elm, both earned Irene Ryan acting nominations for the musical, a World War II-set retelling of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” which was staged Sept. 26 to Oct. 5.

Corinthia Townsend, a junior musical theatre major from Garland, and Jax Stubblefield, a senior theatre major from Malakoff, also earned Irene Ryan nominations for “The Gamester,” which was staged Oct. 24 to Nov. 3.

They’ll take part in Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions Feb. 23 to 27 in Abilene at the Region 6 festival. Designers also are eligible to present their designs in Abilene.

Additionally, the full cast of “Alice by Heart” earned a meritorious achievement award for excellence in an acting ensemble, and its production team, design team, cast and crew earned an award for excellence in collaborative process.

Students earning individual meritorious achievement awards for “Alice” were Noah Seth Santos, a senior design and technology major from Lubbock, for lighting design, Jillian Nuckels, a sophomore design and technology major from Andrews, for sound design, and Liv Martin, a senior acting major from League City, for scenic painting. Dani Collins, a junior design and technology major from Lubbock, was recognized for costume design alongside Anne Medlock, professor of costume design and head of the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance.

The 2024-2025 WT Theatre season will continue with “Artemisia” from Feb. 6 to 16 and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” from April 24 to May 4.

“Alice” cast members also included Logan Lawhon, a sophomore musical theatre major from Midland, as Alfred and others; P.J. Jewett, a senior musical theatre major from Monahans, as Harold Pudding, the Mad Hatter and others; Morgan Baily, a junior musical theatre major from El Paso, as Tabatha and the Cheshire Cat; Ty Thompson, a senior acting major from Fort Worth, as Dodgy, the Duchess and others; Victoria Reyes, a senior musical theatre major from Inez, as Clarissa, the Queen of Diamonds and others; Noa Sorrell, a senior musical theatre major from Fort Worth, as Nigel, the Dormouse and Knave of Clubs; Sanai Lowe, a senior musical theatre major from Frisco, as Angus, the Caterpillar and Knave of Hearts; and Ray Barber, a senior musical theatre major from Conroe, as Dr. Butridge, the King of Hearts and others.

Production team also included Oliver Folger, a senior design and technology major from Levelland, as stage manager; Johnathan-Graham Fanelli Burnett, a sophomore theatre education major from Clarendon, as properties designer; Brooklynn Johnson, a junior design and technology major from Lubbock, as hair and makeup designer; John Landon, professor of theatre, as technical director; Zachary Oehm, instructor of theatre, as scene shop foreman; Leigh Anne Crandall, assistant professor of theatre, as costume shop manager; and Rachel House, a senior design and technology major from The Colony, as house master electrician.

Student production staff members included Lowe as dance captain; Allison Miles, a sophomore design and technology major from Artesia, New Mexico, as assistant stage manager; Isa Slaughter, a junior musical theatre major from Odessa, as assistant stage manager; Violet Greenhaw, a sophomore design and technology major from Sundown, as assistant lighting designer and master electrician; Bryson Shelton, a freshman design and technology major from Amarillo, as assistant master electrician; Joshua Hodge, a junior design and technology major from Amarillo, as light board operator; Alyssa Hale, a sophomore musical theatre major from Bellville, as sound board operator; MarLowe Martinez, a freshman musical theatre major from El Paso, as audio assistant; Britt Lazarus, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Worth, as wardrobe head; Kaitlyn Frausto, a senior acting major from Hereford, as stagehand; and Jonah Gonzales, a senior acting major from Plains, as stagehand.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a national theater program involving 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country. According to its website, it “has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills, and receive national recognition for excellence.”

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Tori Ybarra, left, earned an Irene Ryan acting nomination from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for her performance in West Texas A&M University's production of "Alice by Heart." Logan Lawhon, right, is among the cast members also earning KCACTF awards for the production.

—WT—