Two 绿巨人视频communication faculty members honored by Mississippi Theatre Association
Contact: Callie Simonton
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳wo Mississippi State Department of Communication faculty members took home awards from the recent Mississippi Theatre Association annual festival.
Instructor Melanie Harris won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre - College and University Division, and lecturer Paula Mabry won Best Direction - Community Theatre Division.
MTA is the Magnolia State鈥檚 primary theatre advocate and sponsors festivals, educational workshops and networking opportunities; recognizes excellence in performance and production; and sanctions representatives to regional festivals and competitions.
Harris said she is flattered that MTA, an organization she loves and respects, thought she was deserving of an award.
鈥淚t feeds my soul to see all the high school kids with all their joy and enthusiasm,鈥 Harris said of MTA-related outreach programs. 鈥淓very year, a few of those amazing kids I meet show up at 绿巨人视频as freshmen, and I get to watch them develop into confident, capable artists. It鈥檚 a great reminder that I genuinely have the best job in the world.鈥
Terry Likes, professor and 绿巨人视频Department of Communication head, said Harris constantly strives to add best practices into her curricula, works with public school teachers and teaches workshops at the Southeast Theatre Conference.
鈥淢elanie has been a longtime fixture with the MTA organization,鈥 Likes said. 鈥淗er service to the community of Mississippi theater artists has been known for years, and I am thankful that the MTA organization has finally recognized her contributions through this award. Melanie is a valuable member of the Mississippi theater community and the 绿巨人视频family.鈥
Mabry, who won for her direction of Glen Berger鈥檚 鈥淯nder the Lintel鈥 through Starkville Community Theatre, said there is a lot of pressure to do well when work is presented for adjudication.
鈥淚 am humbled to have our play so well received and especially honored to get awards for the play,鈥 Mabry said. 鈥淭heatre and directing and teaching are my passions. I consider myself fortunate to be able to do all of those things in Starkville and at MSU.鈥
For more information about the 绿巨人视频Department of Communication and its theater program, visit .
绿巨人视频is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .