NMSU theatre seniors win awards

New Mexico State University seniors Eva Cullen and Athena McPeake each took home multiple awards during the New Mexico State University Theatre Department’s Annual Awards Banquet, held Thursday evening, May 8, at the Associated Students of New Mexico University Center for the Arts.

Cullen received the Hershel Zohn Award for Outstanding Senior, Cullen maintained a high GPA and contributed extensive extra-curricular work in the Theatre Department at NMSU. Cullen, who directed “that drive thru monterey” at NMSU earlier this year, also won the award for best overall student technician.

McPeake won the award for best leading performance in NMSU’s 2024 production of “Mother Courage,” in which she played the part of Mother Courage. McPeake was also named outstanding crew member and was this year’s winner of the overall academic excellence award.

Other winners are

• Outstanding production leadership: JJ Hanley for work as set/props crew chief and wardrobe supervisor.
• Outstanding crew team: the production crew from NMSU’s 2024 production of “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors.”
• Best stage manager duo: Katie Mayers and Emily Sierra Glover for their management work on NMSU’s production of “The Prom” in April of this year.
• Best student design or assistant student design: JJ Hanley, hair and makeup design for “that drive thru monterey.”
• Best leading performance in “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors” went to Mario Montiel, who played Dracula.
• Best supporting performance in “Dracula” award went to Eliza Phillips, who played Dr. Westfeldt, Renfield, Captain, and Man-Eating Wolf.
• Best supporting actor in “Mother Courage” went to Angelique Reagan, who played Yvette Pottier.
• Best leading performance in “that drive thru monterey” went to Daniela Galloso, who played Monterrey.
• Best supporting performance in “that drive thru monterey” went to Okalani Ventura, who played Lupe.
• Best leading performance in “The Prom” went to Kate Conrad, who played Angie Dickinson.
• Best supporting performance in “The Prom” went to Edward Leyva, who played Sheldon Saperstein.
• Most outstanding ensemble member in a musical ”Alex Smith in “The Prom.”

Nominees from “The Prom” for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship are Greta Greenblatt and Angelique Reagan. Delaney Sivils was named alternate. Regional finalists will audition for the scholarship at the upcoming national festival in Washington, D.C.

The American Southwest Theatre Company, the nonprofit that supports NMSU theatre students, awarded a senior grant of $1,000 to Eliza Phillips, for summer study at LAMDA School in London, England.

Theatre students who graduated last December of this May were also recognized at the banquet. They are Vance Cook, Arleth Lopez, Ben Ramsey, Eva Cullen, Eliza Phillips and Athena McPeake .