Students, Alumni Honored During Local Theatre Awards
Xea Goolsby and color purple cast
Southwest students and alumni were honored Aug. 26 for their contributions to collegiate, community and professional theatre in the Greater Memphis area during the 40th Annual Osteranders Awards at the Orpheum Theatre. Named for the late actor Jim Ostrander, the awards recognize excellence in a wide range of categories, including acting, directing, and backstage contributions.
Nominees include:
- Student Robrecus “Rico” Parker for Featured Performer in a Play, for his role in the Hattiloo Theatre production of Father Comes Home from the Wars.
- Student Xea Goolsby for Leading Actress in a Musical, for her role in the Hattiloo Theatre production of The Color Purple.
- Faculty member Thomas L. King was nominated for Best Musical Ensemble/Best Production.
Two Southwest alumni received Ostranders:
- Karl Robinson, featured dancer in a musical/best musical ensemble, for Your Arms too Short to Box with God, at Playhouse on the Square.
- Fatima L. Gray, featured performer in a play, for A Raisin in the Sun, at Theatre Memphis.
And additional five alumni also received nominations. For a complete list, click here to read the Memphis Flyer article.
“Southwest is so proud of our current students and alumni for the recognition they are getting and who are representing us so well in the larger Memphis theater community. I want to Saluqi shout congratulations to all of the nominees and winners from this year's Ostranders’ celebration. The training students get here, and the work they and the faculty are doing for other Theatre and production companies is commendable!” said King, assistant professor of communications, graphics, and fine arts. “As we are in the midst of renovating our own theatre home on Union Campus we look forward to getting our own productions back for consideration once again.”
Southwest has a history of contributing to the Memphis arts scene. Shelby State Community College was a liberal arts college before merging with State Technical Institute to create Southwest in 2000.