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Salem State Student From Haverhill Takes Home Prestigious National Theater Award
Salem State has once again taken home acting honors from the annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C. As a result of his performance at the April festival this year, junior theater major Michael Zuccola, of Haverhill, was awarded an apprenticeship at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky, considered one of the finest regional theater companies in America. This award is typically given to graduating seniors; however, because Actors Theatre of Louisville was so impressed with the Salem State junior's performance at this year's Kennedy Center, he was offered a delayed entry to the nine-month apprenticeship. Upon graduation next year, Michal will join the 2010-2011 company. The Kennedy Center will pay for his housing.
According to Michael Legg, director of Actors Theatre of Louisville's apprenticeship program, "Michael Zuccola was chosen specifically because of his outstanding talent. As a result of a new partnership our theatre has instituted with the Kennedy Center, Gregg Henry and the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival agreed to a scholarship match for one of the Irene Ryan finalists I chose for our apprentice company. Michael was my choice."
Annually, Actors Theatre of Louisville accepts just 22 people into the program (11 men and 11 women). "This year," noted Legg, "we auditioned over 2600 people for those 22 slots, so it’s highly competitive."
Zuccola can expect to get first-class training at the Tony Award-winning home of the Humana Festival of New American Plays, as well as professional representation and extraordinary networking opportunities. Many of those in the prestigious apprenticeship program have begun their own theater companies, gone on to graduate studies in theater and launched successful acting, directing or playwriting careers.
Fortunately for Haverhill’s Michael Zuccola, he has time to savor his award and continue his theatre studies at Salem State for another year. When he graduates with a bachelor's degree in fine arts next spring, it's off to Louisville, Kentucky -- and the opportunity of a lifetime.