RELEASED: Feb. 27, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—Last year a dozen students from Centre were able to attend the Southeastern Theatre Conference, the largest theater gathering in the United States. This year that number has nearly doubled with a record 21 Centre students and three faculty members having their bags packed for the Arlington, Va., event March 5-9.

The students will join more than 4,000 others in a variety of workshops, theater festivals, guest speakers and competitions. They'll also have the opportunity to audition in front of representatives from colleges, universities and professional companies.

According to Tony Haigh, professor of dramatic arts at Centre, SETC is where many students make their first step in the theater world outside of Centre.

"Almost everyone who goes to SETC gets an offer," Haigh said. "What's exciting is that some of our freshmen are going."

Senior Katie Lander hasn't done much acting at Centre, and it wasn't until she interned for SETC during the CentreTerm that she realized what the conference was all about.

"I thought it was just for actors," Lander said. "Mainly it's about meeting people in the industry. Anyone in theater can go." Lander is hoping to one day be a theater administrator or artistic director. She also has aspirations to write for American Theater magazine.

Because the experience of SETC is so valuable, financial support for the students has been provided by several campus groups including Career Services, the Faculty Development Committee, the drama program and Centre Players, Haigh said. Thus, students will be traveling at little personal expense.

Academic Dean John Ward will join a panel of deans from other schools to speak at a workshop called "How To Talk So That Deans Will Listen."

Matthew Hallock, assistant professor of drama, will be assisting in conference workshops, as well.

Haigh will accompany the students to SETC not only as faculty support and as a workshop leader, but also because he's the incoming president-elect of the organization.

Haigh was recently published in Southern Theatre magazine. His article "Why Southeastern Theatre Students Should Visit England's Regional Theatres (and How to Put Your Tour Together") is based on a recent trip with students during his three-week CentreTerm course.

Students attending SETC are: seniors Eric Abele, Brendan Adkins, Amanda Beverly, Melinda Crecelius, Allison Furlong, Allison Goetzman, Will Johnston, Katie Lander, Sean McNally and Monica Wauck; juniors Leigh Brown, Lisa Brown, David Flora, Ian Frank, Adam Watson; sophomores Emily Anderson, Michelle Ritter and Emily Tate; and freshmen Chad Dike, Kate Pieratt and Sara Watson.

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