The cast and crew of "She Kills Monsters" were nominated at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival's Region VI Festival. Larshell Green/The Lion's Roar

The cast and crew of “She Kills Monsters” have been nominated for nationally recognized awards and scholarships. Senior music education major Jeremy Guillot and freshman elementary education major Gabrielle Nixon have both been chosen to compete for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s Region VI Festival. Senior general studies major and sound designer Matthew Doyle has been nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design while the entire cast was recognized for Outstanding Ensemble Performance.

“I was very pleased,” said Associate Professor of Acting and Directing James Winter. “The Ensemble Performance Award means a lot to me because I always strive for our student casts to be a strong team.  I also know that Matthew spent nearly six months creating the soundscape for the play, so his honor is well-deserved.  I am thrilled for Gabrielle and Jeremy to compete at regionals as well.”

Guillot played Orcus in the show. He described his feelings going into the show and how he soon felt accepted by the cast.

“I was very nervous going into SKM,” said Guillot. “I have never been in a show that wasn’t a musical. I also never had a large part. Shortly after rehearsals started, I was welcomed into the family that I would later call my cast mates and friends.”

Nixon expressed her own feelings going into her first college theatre experience.

“My experience performing in this show has been like no other,” said Nixon. “I didn’t know what to expect from my first college play, and I was very nervous at first. But, the theatre department welcomed me as one of their own.”

Nixon explained that representatives from the Kennedy Center came to the university to watch the performance and give feedback. 

“Going into show week, we knew two actors would be chosen for this opportunity,” said Nixon. “The Friday after we closed our show, we found out the results. It was hard to believe at first when my name was announced as one of the actors nominated. My mouth dropped, and I was immediately embraced by the cast. This is an incredible opportunity, and I’m so grateful for the entire cast and crew because this wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

Doyle explained that the sound designers who worked with him on the production took the sound design in three different directions: composition, sound foley and effects.

“There is a challenge for when it comes to theater because it’s not like most other mediums,” said Doyle. “You have to write interesting and pleasing melodies that don’t detract from what’s happening on stage, which is always an interesting challenge for it.”

Doyle explained how he felt a sense of fulfillment from the news of his nomination.

“It’s hard to find the exact words for it,” said Doyle. “I feel like I never have to have an award to justify making cool things that I love and making really cool projects and working with the wonderful people in our theatre department. But on a personal note, it is kind of nice to have some recognition for the work that you’ve done, and it kind of makes you feel validated in a lot of your decisions in what you’re doing with your time in college.”

Nixon expressed what working on the show meant for her.

“The months of preparation were worth every second on the stage in front of an audience,” said Nixon. “I feel like we gave the audience an exciting, action-filled, heartfelt play that was more than ‘just a play’ itself. This show has been a dream for me. I’m so humbled and grateful to have been a part of it.”