Chicago IL – The Liberace Foundation and Columbia College Chicago have awarded merit-based scholarships to ten of the college’s outstanding theater students. This is the fourth year the Foundation has supported Columbia students.
Competing in a field of their peers, these aspiring theater professionals were judged to represent “the highest degree of excellence in their particular area of the theater” by a jury comprised of faculty from their department. Columbia’s Liberace Scholars, who hail from all across the United States, are actively engaged in their theater education at school and in the City of Chicago:
Directing major, Eric Turner is receiving the award for the second time. He has directed, assistant directed or stage managed six plays to date, including works as diverse as Edward Albee’s The American Dream and She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. Eric has also worked with theater department chair Sheldon Patinkin, assisting the Chicago legend with his production of The Sunset Limited at Steppenwolf Garage. Eric completed Columbia’s new program in Comedy Studies at Second City and performed in their Showcase production “Premature Articulation” in May.
Jessica Harpenau, has designed several productions and has worked on the electrics crew. Past design credits include Ghosts, The Heidi Chronicles, Quilters, The Night of the Iguana, Shakespeare Showcase and the 24 Hour Play Marathon. She will design the upcoming main stage show, Pack of Lies with Professor Caroline Latta. At the professional level, Jessica recently co-designed The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Steep Theatre. As well as designing, she is a freelance electrician for various theaters including Steppenwolf Theatre, Light Opera Works, Marriott Theatre and others.
Singer and actress Daisica Smith, a second-time Liberace Scholar, transferred to Columbia in order to pursue her full range of creative interests including fine and computer art, as the school encourages artistic exploration across disciplines. As an actress she’s already racked up two major productions at Columbia—Ragtime and A Streetcar Named Desire—and performed in May in Columbia’s 24 hour new plays festival.
Hilary Williams has played Beatrice-Joanna in The Changeling, various roles in Arabian Nights and has performed in a Directing IV: Advanced project, Machinal. At the professional level, she was an understudy for the role of Minnie in A Room With A View at Chicago’s well regarded non-equity theater, Lifeline Theatre Chicago.
Laura Korn has performed in Quills by Doug Wright, as well as the Shakespeare review, Hot Mess. After graduation, whether she stays in Chicago or moves to New York City, she wants to audition full time for everything: movies, commercials, theater, then possibly teach theater and open her own theater company.
Eleni Kanalos has acted in Ragtime, The Apple Tree and Urinetown. In addition to her academic and creative pursuits, Eleni was hired as an entertainer on the Spirit of Chicago—a cruise ship docked at Navy Pier. After graduation, she would like to stay in Chicago but is also interested in a touring show.
Ryan Bourque has performed in Old Time Radio Drama, Lobby Hero, Blue Window, Night of the Iguana, White Russian and the Shakespeare showcase. He says that while attending Columbia, he has never worked so hard and slept so little, but he wouldn't change anything about it. In the professional realm, he has performed at the Chicago Sketch Fest and as an extra on TV shows and movies that have come to town. Ryan will also be working behind the scenes on a film this summer.
Brandon Thompson transferred to Columbia in 2005 from the University of Michigan-Flint. While at Columbia, Brandon has played Telegin in Uncle Vanya, Jafar in The Arabian Nights, the Marquis de Sade in Quills and Pike in Paradise Lost. At the professional level, Brandon has performed in the American Living Room Festival in New York City and played an ensemble member of Awkward Silence at the 2007 Chicago Sketch Festival.
Behzad N. Dabu recently played the lead in the main-stage production of The Workroom and has been in several other productions. As a talented actor striving to gain real world experience, Behzad currently understudies at the Viaduct Theatre in the Sinnerman Ensemble’s production of The Incredibly Famous Willy Rivers.
Brad Fry played the leads in the Directing III project, The Goat or Sylvia and in the Directing IV: Advanced production of The Rose Tattoo.
The mission of the Liberace Foundation is to help talented students pursue careers in the performing and creative arts through scholarship assistance. Since 1976, The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts has awarded more than 5 million dollars in scholarship grants to over 100 universities, schools and organizations including The Julliard School, Northwestern University, Oberlin and UCLA. www.liberace.org.
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