Congratulations to winners of acting competition held at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale as a part of the 1997 Tennessee Williams Festival. Attended by nearly 100 students from Mississippi schools, the competition offered experience for all, trophies for the top three presenters of monologues and of scenes, and substantial checks to enable winners' schools to buy books for their libraries, to help finance theatre productions, or to provide travel funding to see professional theatre productions.

The first-place scene competition award of $1,000 went to the Power Academic Performing Arts Complex of Jackson for This Property Is Condemned, while the second-place prize of $500 was captured by Oxford High School for A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot. Northwest Rankin of Brandon placed third for a scene from The Glass Menagerie. Winners of the monologue competition were Dutch Mehmedic of Oxford High School for his portrayal of Kilroy from Camino Real (first place, $300), Molly Carson of Tunica Institute of Learning from her portrayal of Maggie from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (second place, $200), and Rebecca Shannon of Tunica Institute for Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire (third place).

In addition to participating in and watching the competition, students attended an acting workshop conducted by actress and drama teacher Cindy Gold, formerly of the University of Mississippi and now of Northwestern University. Colby Kullman, professor of English at the University of Mississippi, conducted a workshop for teachers on "Teaching Tennessee Williams." Coordinator Linda Watson is enthusiastic about the competition, which she sees as providing marvelous opportunities for students and teachers while encouraging the study of Williams in schools throughout the state.

The Tennessee Williams Festival Acting Competition is open to high school students in Mississippi. The 1998 competition will take place at Coahoma Community College on Saturday, October 17. For competition guidelines and entry forms, write Tennessee Williams Festival, P.O. Box 1565, Clarksdale, MS 38614-1565; telephone 601-627-7337.