Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 6, 1993 TAG: 9302060037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
REGIONAL COMPETITION EXCITES TECH'S `FENCES' CAST
When Darryl Gibson auditioned for a part in the Virginia Tech production of August Wilson's play "Fences" in August, he only set his sights on getting the part.Six months later, the 20-year-old junior in theater arts is preparing to go to Alabama for the American College Theater Festival regional competition, with his sights set on the national competition in Washington.
"I'm thrilled about it," Gibson said. "This is the first time Virginia Tech has been chosen to compete with an all-black cast. I think it's important for Virginia Tech to be represented in that way."
"Fences," winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony award, relates the struggles of a Philadelphia working-class black family during the 1950s.
Judges chose "Fences" for the competition, which will be held in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday though next Saturday, after watching the original performance at Tech in October.
Gibson and the six other members of the "Fences" cast were one of six collegiate groups chosen for the regional competition, which encompasses 11 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Nearly 90 schools were nominated for the competition.
"ACTF is the highest level of collegiate theater," said Marketing Director Letha Young. "It's the equivalent of the Rose Bowl for college football and the Final 16 for college basketball."
H.D. Flowers, coordinator of black studies and theater arts professor, is the director of the play. Flowers said the "Fences" cast has much to be proud of just for having been chosen to compete.
"The regional competition is perhaps the hardest competition to get into," Flowers said. He said productions are chosen for the national competition on the basis of uniqueness and variety, and are not necessarily the best in the nation.
In addition to the actors, the set and costume designers also were chosen for the regional competition. If the actors and designers win in the regional competition, they will go on the national level at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
Also part of the competition is the Irene Ryan Competition for actors. Three of the "Fences" cast members - Gibson, Demetrius Wharton and Cappelli S. Burless II - will compete, performing two-person scenes and monologues.
Winners of the Irene Ryan competition will receive acting scholarships, in addition to the all-important rewards of exposure and recognition from the performing industry.
Flowers said the theater arts department was thrilled about the "Fences" staff being chosen for the competition, although this is not the first time Tech has participated in the ACTF regionals. The university has been in eight regional and two national competitions since 1972.
But for most of the "Fences" cast, competing on such a high level is a new experience.
"The hard part is keeping my excitement level down," Gibson said. "If I don't, I'm going to look like a fool up there."
Burless agreed that the anticipation of competing was a challenge in itself.
"Obviously, I think I speak for everyone by saying there is a hint of nervousness in the air," he said. "Basically, it's just one of those things you can't wait for."
Burless said the competition served two purposes.
"For me, it's a chance to showcase my talents," he said. "As far as the group, it's a chance for us as an acting company to show that Virginia Tech is, indeed, a powerhouse for acting."
Professional actress Paulette Lynn, who is guest artist for the "Fences" performance, is the only veteran of the ACTF competition.
Lynn, who has been performing in New York for six years, was in at least five ACTF competitions while she was in college. She said the thrill of the competition is worth the pressure.
"It's just you alone with the judges," Lynn said. "You just have to worry about what the judges see so they can discover why you were chosen in the first place."
But the performers are not the only ones feeling the pressure.
Set designer Cheri Vasek said she, too, was eager to compete in Alabama. And she is most proud that the entire show was nominated, not any one part of it:
"The whole show hangs together with strong cohesive values," she said. "We must have been doing something right."
The Tech theater arts department will present a benefit performance of "Fences" Monday at 8 p.m. in the Squires Haymarket Theatre on the Virginia Tech campus.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and the elderly, with proceeds going toward the expense of sending "Fences" to the competition.
They are available through the Squires Student Center ticket office and can be reserved by calling 231-5615.