UCM Theatre & Dance Presents Scholarships and Awards at Annual Banquet

New Theatre Guild Scholarship recipients, from left, Nathalia Cordero, Theatre Performance major;
Emma Stevens, Theatre Design/Tech major; Brody Lafrentz, Theatre Design/Tech major;
Anna Fletcher, Musical Theatre major; and Audrey Shepard, Musical Theatre major.

 

The University of Central Missouri (UCM) Division of Theatre and Dance celebrated its annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet on May 2 at the Highlander Theatre. UCM’s Alpha Psi Omega, national theatre honorary fraternity, hosted the banquet with nearly 100 faculty, students and guests, awarding 52 scholarships worth $67,000 to current and incoming students.

Alpha Psi Omega presented the following awards: 

• Outstanding Performance in a Mainstage Play: Hannah Vath for “The Importance of Being Earnest”

• Outstanding Performance in a Mainstage Musical: Claire Groos for “9 to 5”

• Outstanding Dancer in the Fringe Festival: Vath for “Apotheosis”

• Outstanding Choreography in a Mainstage Show: Raegan Weber for “9 to 5”

• Outstanding Mainstage Dramaturgy: Alyna Mathews for “9 to 5”

• Outstanding Stage Management: Gabe Sokolowski for “9 to 5”

• Outstanding Mainstage Lighting Design: Ari Kendrick for “9 to 5”

• Outstanding Mainstage Properties Design: Shannon Williamson for “9 to 5”

• Outstanding Mainstage Sound Design Award: Sokolowski for “Bus Stop”

• Outstanding Mainstage Costume Design Award: Avory Nail for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

• Outstanding Hair/Makeup Design Award: Emma Stevens for “9 to 5”

• Hugh Hocking Memorial Award for Superior Technical Theatre: Daniel Aubun for his scenic design for “Bus Stop”

• Outstanding Mainstage Assistant Direction Award: Vath for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

• Outstanding Mainstage Understudy Award: Alea Ware for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” 

• Outstanding Contribution to the Studio One-Act Theatre: Rosalyn Schuster for “Car Games”

• Outstanding Studio Award: John Plasencio and Sokolowski for their direction and technical direction of “Laugh ‘til You Cry” 

• Outstanding Contribution to a Black Box Production: Plasencio for “Playscencio”

• Outstanding Theatre Freshman Award: Kody Paris

• Guiding Lighting Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Senior: Weber

Theatre and Dance faculty members presented the Outstanding Theatre Student Awards to Weber and Vath. The Who-Cho-Cho-Chooo for best-dressed of the evening was given to Trae Selemaea.

New initiates into Alpha Psi Omega were also recognized, and senior members were presented with graduation cords.

Numerous scholarships were presented throughout the evening by students, faculty and donors. UCM is proud to be one of four universities where the New Theatre Scholarship Guild from Overland Park, Kansas, awards five $3,500 scholarships each year. The New Theatre Guild Scholarship recipients included: 

• New Theatre Guild McDowell Family Scholarship: Anna Fletcher

• New Theatre Guild Mary Wyram Family Scholarship: Brody Lafrentz

• New Theatre Dennis D. Hennesy and Richard Carrothers Scholarship: Nathalia Cordero

• New Theatre Arlene Krings Memorial Scholarship: Stevens

• New Theatre Guild Highlander-See: Audrey Shepard

Additional scholarships presented during the banquet included:

• James L. Highlander Theatre Scholarship: Grace'e Carr and Hannah Rodriguez-Nemeth

• Mancow Muller Theatre Scholarship: Selemaea

• Loneta Pearce Scholarship for the Promotion of Theatre Arts: Jesse Moore

• Charles G. and Laura Keynon Kuhn Distinguished Theatre Artist Award: Paris, Allison Whitbey, Adria Carr and Damian Schaffnit

• Lucy Bergman Memorial Scholarship in Theatre: Illary Soto, Kelley Akers, Xander Corkins, Maddison Cole and Dawson Black

• Virgil E. See Theatre Scholarship: Frankie Nelson

• Nina L. Devenny Distinguished Theatre Artist Award: Chase Dernier

• Dolores M. & John W. Kitterman Theatre Scholarship: Elizabeth Molina

• Biggins Scholarships: Ellie Siegfried, Mayeli Rodriguez, Reagan Medlock, Lucy Nutt, Williamson, Amiya Jimmerson and Alex DeMint

• Harold and Sherralyn Craven Scholarship in Theatre: Alexandra Edmonds, an incoming freshman

• William Martin Scully IV Creativity Scholarship: Ayden Christensen

• Foundation Scholarship: Weber

• Peer Mentor Scholarship: Ware

• Richard Herman Black Box Theatre Scholarship: Kendrick

• David R. Peerbolte Technical Theatre Scholarship: Noah Martin

• Ryann Hill Theatre Scholarship: Kaia Trujillo

• Theatre and Dance Ambassador Scholarships: current and incoming students Gavin Clifton, Julianne Conn, Carson Stickrod, Brynlee Jones, Matthias Klestinski, Liam Love, Erin Butcher, Anthony Frump-Halloran, Karsen Martin, Mallory Blankenship, Kaedyn Blede, Landon Younger, Hayden Meschon, Daniel Campbell, Brooke Opfer, Abigail Millbyer, Lillianna Rasmussen, Tyler Schroeder, Madison Keep and Ava Broermann

The Distinguished Patron Award recognizes exceptional support and dedication from a patron or patrons whose contributions have significantly aided in the success of the Theatre and Dance program and production season. The Distinguished Patron of the Year Award went to College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Associate Dean Kathy Leicht, Ph.D., and her husband, Scott Umphrey, for their continuous support, patronage and advocacy for UCM Theatre and Dance as Foundation members and donors for many years.

UCM Theatre and Dance is also announcing its 2026-27 production season, entitled “[your story here],” featuring a wide variety of plays and musicals. Season tickets will be available beginning in August.

The upcoming season begins with Central Missouri Repertory’s annual summer children’s show tour. This year’s show, “The Lost Musketeer,” will have public performances at 10 a.m. June 3 and 7 p.m. June 7 in the Highlander Theatre. 

The fall begins with student-produced Fall Studio One-Acts on Sept. 10-12. The first play of the season, “Alabaster,” will take place Oct. 1-4, followed by the beloved children’s tale, “Shrek the Musical,” which runs Nov. 13-15 and Nov. 19-21. 

In the spring, the season kicks off with Spring Studio One-Acts on Feb. 4-6, followed by “[title of show]” Feb. 25-28. The classic Arthur Miller play, “The Crucible,” will run March 24-27, and the season ends with a spring dance concert, “Wonderland,” on April 22-25.