The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
Ryan Scholarship Coordinators
Grechen Lynne Wingerter
Pellissippi State Community College
glwingerter@pstcc.edu
Deb Liss-Green
Andrew College
deborahlissgreen@andrewcollege.edu
Comic actor Irene Ryan (1902-1973) left behind a long list of memorable roles on stage, screen, and radio — and a generous bequest that supports student actors across the nation through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Scholarship Auditions
The complete audition process for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship for the 2025 Festival is as follows:
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All rounds (Preliminary, Semi Final, and Final) of the Ryans will be held in person at the regional conference.
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All three rounds will be limited to four minutes and will consist of one monologue and one scene.
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All three rounds will consist of the same material.
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Self-submissions are still allowed. In order to be guaranteed that your nomination or self-submission is seen you must complete the Irene Ryan Registration Form and register for the festival.
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Irene Ryan nominees may partner with one other nominee.
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Nominees who choose to partner with each other must select separate scenes.
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No musical auditions – please audition for the Musical Theatre Initiative.
Registration Note
Please be aware you must register for Irene Ryans AND for the Festival.
Registration for the Irene Ryans will close on Sunday, December 15 at 11:59 EST. No late submissions will be accepted.
Late registration for the Festival is permissible.
Self Nomination
Production nominations will continue to be accepted. However, students can self-nominate for the Acting Scholarship auditions whether or not they were nominated.
Self-nominating students may be from any institution actively participating in the Region.
NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
This year self-nominations will be completed using the same form as all other nominations. Please be sure to select your type of nomination.
Requirements for eligibility (also must be met by partner):
- Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at the time of registration.
- Home Institution must have at least one production registered during the year leading up to the festival.
- Students must be registered for the festival.
- All due dates for Ryans apply to self nominations.
Please direct all questions to the Irene Ryan Coordinators.
Student Eligibility and Partnering
All Irene Ryan nominees will receive information on the festival from the Ryan coordinators.
Nominees and partners must be “bona fide” students during the academic year they are to perform. Bona fide is defined as an undergraduate student taking at least 6 semester hours, a graduate student taking at least 3 semester hours, or a part-time student enrolled in a degree or certificate program. Any question regarding eligibility will be referred to the chair of the student’s theatre program.
Irene Ryan nominees may also serve as scene partners.
Rights and Royalties
KCACTF requires written proof of rights to perform any piece at festival that is not designated on the KCACTF national website as available:
KCACTF Guidelines on Rights and Royalties
Any fee required by an author or their representative is the sole responsibility of the nominee.
