The official archive for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Region III, is located at the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute at The Ohio State University.

theatreinst@osu.edu or 614/292-6614

General Information

The Irene Ryan Scholarships provide recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The Irene Ryan Foundation awards 16 regional and two national scholarships annually. Sixteen (16) of the awards consist of a $500 scholarship for each regional representative of KCACTF. There are two scholarships of $3500 each for the winners at the national festival in Washington, D.C. In addition, the student judged the Best Partner in the national auditions is awarded a cash prize of $250. 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.

Additional awards are made to Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship participants and their acting partners each year at the national level. Past awards include a fellowship to attend the Society of American Fight Directors' National Stage Combat Workshop, the Williamstown Theatre Festival Fellowship for outstanding minority candidates, the KCACTF National Partners Classical Acting Award, the Mark Twain Prize for Comic Performance, fellowships to attend the Margolis Method Summer Intensive in Minneapolis, the Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre and Mad River Festival, and an offer to become a member of the acting company of the Sundance Theatre Laboratory. The list of awards and student opportunities associated with the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions at the national festival continues to expand each year and the auditions are now undoubtedly one of the most exciting educational and artistic opportunities for student actors in the country.

Other awards to student participants in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions may also be made at the regional level. Students and coaches are encouraged to consult their regional chair or regional Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions Coordinator for more information on regional awards.