Actors, Director of 'The Pillowman' Recognized By Kennedy Center

Two actors in Rider’s recent production of The Pillowman, along with the play’s director, received praise for their performances from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. They will be recognized during the Center’s American College Theater Festival next year.

Kevin Feehery of Wall, N.J., who played Tupolski, and David Spadora of Flemington, N.J., a freshman Fine Arts major, who played Katurian, were both awarded Irene Ryan Scholarship nominations. The Irene Ryan Scholarship, established by the actress best known for her role as “Granny Clampett” in The Beverly Hillbillies, is the most prestigious award possible for a University student, providing 16 scholarships worth $500 at the regional level and two scholarships worth $2,500 at the national festival in Washington, D.C.
In order to compete, universities and colleges invited the Center’s respondents to come see their productions. Respondents meet with the entire casts and crews to critique their work after the shows. More than 600 universities and colleges compete in the competition annually.
“You’re talking about competing with the best of the best with this kind of nomination,” said Miriam Mills in reference to to the Irene Ryan Scholarship Award. Mills, director of the production, was also notified that she will receive a meritorious directing award for excellence. “I’m thrilled. I’m humbled. It’s quite a surprise.”

In fact, Kennedy Center respondent Matthew Gregory also told Mills, an assistant professor in the School of Fine and Performing Arts, that he has never seen a finer college production during his seven years in the position, according to the director.

At the same time, Bob Brown of the Packet Publications’ Time OFF wrote a review of the production. “This is some of the best ensemble acting you’ll see in this area at any level. Much credit must go to the director, Miriam Mills, for an inspired performance. And Tharyle Prather’s set design and Amith Chandrashaker’s lighting for bringing the fairy tales to life,” wrote Brown in the Princeton-based entertainment magazine.

Mills said receiving such praise is an honor as the students’ dedication shone through in a challenging play. “It’s nice to know that the students’ level of extraordinary work is being appropriately honored,” she said. During the entire process, Mills said the students were committed, focused and demonstrated artistic honesty because they emotionally became their characters.
 
The black comedy focuses on Katurian, a writer of short stories, living in an unnamed totalitarian state. He is arrested and brought in for interrogation because his dark, child-murder stories seem to be coming true, and it appears that the writer is inspiring someone to slay these innocent children. Tupolski is the lead detective in the case.

Although, Spadora has performed in various middle school, high school and community theater musicals, this was his first leading role in a theatrical play.

“This has been the biggest undertaking I have ever worked and it is incredibly rewarding to receive this type of recognition from a professional institution like the Kennedy Center,” said Spadora, adding that he learned a lot from the upperclassmen in the production.