THEATER:Golden West College actors vie for scholarships

Irene Ryan may be best known as Granny on the classic TV series “The Beverly Hillbillies,” but mention her name around a bunch of college theater students and watch their eyes light up.

The actress endowed a scholarship presented each year to some of the most outstanding college performers at the Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival. This year, four actors from Golden West College are in the running.

The chosen four are Eric Bugosh and Austin Wells — who are being nominated for their work in GWC’s production of “Red Noses” — and Courtney Marie Barr and Ahn-Thu Pham, recognized for their performances in “Uncommon Women and Others.”

They will perform scenes from their shows in February at the Kennedy Center’s regional festival in February in Cedar City, Utah. Joining them will be their scene partners — Tony Torrico, Kirby Keel, Christine Gilbert and Michelle Merlino, the latter an Orange Coast College student.

If successful at the regional festival, the nominees will advance to the national festival, to be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

“It is extremely gratifying as directors to witness students who have worked diligently to improve their skills as actors acknowledged for their efforts,” noted Martie Ramm, a new GWC instructor and director of “Uncommon Women and Others.”

“We are extremely proud of their growth as actors and students.”

GWC professor Tom Amen, who directed “Red Noses,” seconds Ramm’s comments while noting that the nominees are only a small handful of the many talented theater students at the college, including those working behind the scenes.

One of the latter, Laurie Ann Reynolds, will receive an award for “meritorious achievement” from the festival for her work on props and sound for “Red Noses.”

“I’m very pleased to see students of all theater disciplines honored for the focused and courageous work they are doing as young artists here at GWC,” Amen said, adding that he considers these nominees merely the tip of the iceberg of talent at the college.

“For a handful to stand out, a multitude must lend a willing and supportive hand,” Amen noted, “and these nominations represent both a celebration of individual achievement and a celebration of the ensemble spirit.”