On June 12, 2017, Golden West’s Theater program was honored with Four University Arts (UniArts) Awards, at the 12th Annual National Youth Arts Awards Ceremony, held at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster.
Golden West College Theater Arts received the top award for Outstanding Production and three actors won awards for their performances. Alex Jean, who played Link Larkin received the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and two actors won UniArts awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress; Kyra Olschewske as Penny Pingleton and Taylor Windle as Amber Von Tussle.
The National Youth Theatre was founded in March of 2000 as a resource for youth theater. The NYA Awards program was created several years later to honor youth achievements in the arts. The UniArts awards honor college level performances.
About the Actors
Alex Jean
Alex Jean (Link Larkin) is a graduate from PCPA — Pacific Conservatory Theatre in Santa Maria, CA. His most recent roles include Smee (Peter & The Starcatcher) Lord Rivers (Richard III) and Borachio (Much Ado About Nothing). He is very excited to be in his first production at Golden West College. He would like to thank his friends and family for all of their continued love and support. “The theater was created to tell people the truth about life and the social situation” —Stella Adler
Kyra Olschewske
Kyra Olschewske (Penny Pingleton) is thrilled to be returning to the Golden West College Mainstage for her second production. She is also extremely excited to have been given the chance to reprise her role as Penny Lou Pingleton. Some of her previous theater credits include; Katie Nana /Female Ensemble in Mary Poppins, Adult Female Ensemble in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird, Zaneeta Shinn in The Music Man, Juror Three in Twelve Angry Men, Brook Wyndham in Legally Blonde, Sylvia Barrett in Up the Down Staircase, Tzeitel in Fiddler on The Roof, Cindy Lou Huffington in The Marvelous Wonderettes, and Mary Lou Huntzinger/Ensemble in Personals.
Taylor Windle
Taylor Windle (Amber Von Tussle, Dance Captain) is a 20-year-old sophomore studying theatre and is thrilled to be attending Cal State Long Beach as a theatre major in the fall. She has studied musical theatre at Broadway Dreams Foundation and Cap 21 Conservatory. Some of her favorite roles include Diana Morales (A Chorus Line), Aunt Eller (Oklahoma), Lucy (Avenue Q), Yvonne/Dance Captain (Miss Saigon), and Mayzie (Seussical). Taylor hopes you enjoy the show as much as she has enjoyed working on it!
More information about the awards is at http://www.nationalyouththeatre.com/
