Salem State College theater student
named national finalist

SALEM, Mass. - Nancy McNulty of Milton, a senior in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Salem State College, will compete April 24-28 in the National Finals of the American College Theatre Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

McNulty qualified for the National Finals when she and her scene partner, Ian Conway, a junior from Peabody, were recently selected from a field of over 170 New England college students at the Irene Ryan Regional Acting Competition at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H..

McNulty was one of six Salem State College students who advanced to the Final 16 at the Irene Ryan regional. Classmates Joseph Jay Carey of Nahant, Eric Gordinas of Salem, Julee Rose Antonellis of Natick, Tracee Chimos of Saugus and Brianne Beatrice of Swampscott joined her to give Salem State a significant stage presence. "What an accomplishment," praised Salem State College Theatre Coordinator David Allen George. "The competition started out with a field of 170 actors and actresses from top universities and colleges in New England. When that number was reduced to 16, over one third of them were Salem State College students."

McNulty's selection marks the fifth time in the past eight years that a theater student from Salem State College has advanced to the national finals.

In 1993, Thomas Silcott became the only SSC student to win the national award. Both Antonellis and Chimos are former national finalists.

By virtue of his second-place finish in the regional competition, Carey, a senior, has been named first alternate for McNulty.

The winner of the national competition will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship. McNulty, who attended high school at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, received a $500 scholarship from the Irene Ryan Foundation when she won the regional competition.

To arrange for an interview with McNulty, George or any of the students named in this release, please call the Office of College Relations at (978) 542-7519.