Earlier this year, Allen Theater and Film student Brynn Walker won the Regional Award in Makeup Design after competing in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V against students from colleges and 4-year universities across seven states.
This marks the third year in a row that a Theatre student studying technical theater has won the regional award for their specific category. Titlope Oyelami won a First-Time Stage Management Award in 2023 and Tiago Cortes won the Regional Award in Scenic Design for his design of “The How and the Why” in 2024.
Head of the Theater Department, Tricia Stogsdill, says that these awards highlight the quality of the theater department here at Allen and show the creativity at the school.
“Each year we really try and focus on the individual talents/interests of the students.”
When asked about people who have most helped them in theatre, Walker talks about Stogsdill letting them be a student designer for two of the school’s productions and also letting them explore other parts of theater like sound and set construction.
This environment of creativity is what first drew Walker to the start their career in theater.
“Before I decided to commit to Allen, I was convinced that I was going to go to a beauty school and get my cosmetology license. When I first joined theater, I realized that this is where I can be the most creative version of myself and be around people who encourage creativity and diversity,” Walker said.
Walker said that they first started teaching themselves about special effects and theatrical makeup since freshman year in high school and have only been doing makeup shows for about a year now.
Walker plans on working in a wardrobe shop or scene shop after graduation from Allen then work their way up to being a designer in a professional theater.