Four Students in Manhattan College Players Nominated for Irene Ryan Acting Award

Four Manhattan College students – Matthew Blackwood ’22, Isabelle Campbell ‘22, Maren Kain ’22, and Sami Rini ’22 – have been nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Award at the upcoming Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 1 Festival in January.  

The Irene Ryan award highlights exceptional student performers looking to further their education. Blackwood, Kain and Rini received the nomination based on their performance in the fall 2021 Manhattan College production of Significant Other. Campbell was nominated after her performance in Oedipus Rex in spring 2021. 

“This is a huge achievement for our students. I’m so proud of the work we’ve been able to accomplish in the past year,” said J.R. Caldwell, an adjunct faculty member in the music and theater department and director of the Manhattan College Players. 

Significant Other is also in the running to be shown as an example of outstanding theater at Region 1. In addition to Oedipus Rex, Significant Other is the second production from Manhattan College that is being held for consideration. 

In 2021, the Manhattan College Players received The Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Award for their production of The Laramie Project. The Players’ production of The Laramie Project also was chosen as one of the top 10 college and university productions in Region 1 (New England and New York) from the fall 2020 semester.