IRENE RYAN
ACTING
SCHOLARSHIP
About
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation awards sixteen regional and two national scholarships annually. One nominee and partner from every region will be invited to the national conference and the nominee will receive a $500 scholarship. The runner-up in each region will receive a $500 scholarship, but will not attend the national conference to audition for the national scholarship.
Students and coaches are encouraged to consult their regional chair or regional Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions Co-Directors for information on other regional awards. The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships are, indeed, scholarships; so the Foundation disburses the award through a school designated by the winner, to pay tuition and fees for further education, not necessarily limited to theatre arts.
PROCESS
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All rounds of the Ryans will be held in person at the regional conferences.
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All three rounds will be the same with a total package of 4 minutes to present one monologue and one scene.
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Self-submissions are still allowed and there will be no difference between nominations and self-submissions. In order to be guaranteed that your nomination or submission is seen, you must complete the region-specific entry process by the date established in each region. Individual regions may elect to enact a maximum number of entries that will be clearly communicated before submission deadlines.
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Ryan participants will still be able to partner with ONE other Ryan participant, BUT must use a different scene for each package.
GUIDELINES
Only those performers who are bona fide students during the conference year are eligible. For the purpose of these awards, a bona fide student is:
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An undergraduate student* registered for at least six semester or equivalent quarter hours;
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A graduate student* registered for at least three semester or equivalent quarter hours;
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Or a continuing part-time student* enrolled in a regular degree or certificate program.
Undergraduate, graduate, and continuing part-time students must be matriculating and pursuing a degree at the time of the KCACTF official response. The chair of the theatre department (or their delegate) must verify the candidate and partner’s bona fide student status.
All scene partners must have been a bona fide student at the time of the initial KCACTF response or during the term in which the regional conference occurs. Nominees and their partners need not be students at the same institution.
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To create the most equitable opportunity for students, schools will be permitted to submit as many self-submissions as they deem necessary. However, due to the high volume of Irene Ryan nominees in Region 8 and the combination of Region 7 into our conference (formerly festival) this year, if more than 3 self-submissions per school are entered, a panel of selectors will select a maximum of 3 students from that school.
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Self-Submission Applications Begin: December 2, 2024
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Self-Submission Applications Deadline: December 16, 2024
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Please use the link below to fill out your Self-Submission form.
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Please note: If there is a high volume of schools that utilize the self-submissions, there may be a need for another round of selections, from the 3 students per school, in order to accommodate the schedule for the in-person preliminary round at this year’s conference.
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Please see below for information regarding important dates and deadlines.
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Self-Submission Applications Begin: December 2, 2024
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Self-Submission Applications Deadline: December 16, 2024
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Intent to Participate Applications Begin: December 20, 2024
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Intent to Participate Applications Deadline: January 27, 2025
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CRITERIA
Student artists participating in the Irene Ryan auditions are encouraged to make materials and artistic choices with consideration of the following criteria:
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Choosing material suited for the actor that reflects self-awareness, expressive emotional range, wide vocal range, and physical connectedness.
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Engaging in active objectives and tactics to affect how they are speaking to their real or imagined scene partner. (Acting is action: why is your objective? What/who is your obstacle?)
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Living truthfully in the moment of their given circumstances. (Who, what, where, when, why, and how?)
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Expressing a compelling story with a clear arc from beginning to middle to end.
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Demonstrating a connection with a real or imagined scene partner (i.e. who you are speaking to?), projected imagery, and specific fourth wall focal points.
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Making a Body/Voice Connection. (Are you filling the space vocally, energetically, and in connection with your body? Can we understand you?)
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Ryan participants will still be able to partner with ONE other Ryan participant, BUT must use a DIFFERENT scene for each package.
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Singing will not be allowed. It is recommended that those interested in singing explore the Musical Theatre Intensive.
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Students and/or faculty advisors are responsible for making sure rights, royalties, and permissions are adhered to when selecting material.
Please Note: Concord Theatricals is Samuel French, Inc. -
Rules regarding Rights, Royalties, Slating, Timekeeping, uses of Props and Furniture will remain from previous years and can be found at the link below.
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The National Scholarship format will be the same as the Regional Final Round.
AUDITION ROUNDS
The preliminary round will perform live, IN-PERSON, at the Regional Conference, with ONE monologue and ONE scene (with a time limit of 4 minutes, total). Students will receive feedback from the faculty respondents in the preliminary round.
Performed LIVE at conference: One monologue and one scene – time limit of 4 minutes total.
- Students (auditionee and partner) must have a paid registration to participate.
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Students will have the use of 2 chairs and a table.
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Minimal hand props are allowed but must be brought on and off by the actors easily.
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Timing of the audition will begin with the first action or word in character following the setup and introduction and will not stop from that point onward.
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Students will receive feedback from faculty respondents.
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Semi-Finalists will be announced at the Regional Conference.
Semi-finalists will perform live, IN-PERSON, at the Regional Conference, with ONE monologue and ONE scene (Same package as the preliminary round, with a time limit of 4 minutes, total). Semi-finalists will receive feedback from the Semi-Final Round Selectors.
Performed LIVE at conference: One monologue and one scene – time limit of 4 minutes total (Same package as the preliminary round).
- Students will have the use of 2 chairs and a table.
-
Minimal hand props are allowed but must be brought on and off by the actors easily.
-
Timing of the audition will begin with the first action or word in character following the setup and introduction and will not stop from that point onward.
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Students will receive feedback from Semi-Final Round Selectors.
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Finalists (sixteen students) will be announced at the Regional Conference.
Finalists (sixteen students) will perform live, IN-PERSON, at the Regional Conference, with ONE monologue and ONE scene (Same package as the preliminary and semi-final rounds, with a time limit of 4 minutes, total). Finalists will receive feedback from the Final Round Selectors.
Performed LIVE at conference: One monologue and one scene – time limit of 4 minutes total (Same package as the preliminary and semi-final rounds).
- Students will have the use of 2 chairs and a table.
-
Minimal hand props are allowed but must be brought on and off by the actors easily.
-
Timing of the audition will begin with the first action or word in character following the setup and introduction and will not stop from that point onward.
-
Students will receive feedback from Final Round Selectors.
The Irene Ryan Scholarship Team
Jason Francescon
Irene Ryan Scholarship Co-Director
Citrus College
kcactf8ryans@gmail.com
Gahren Markarian
Irene Ryan Scholarship Co-Director
Citrus College
kcactf8ryans@gmail.com