UWG News Archive

Theatre Department establishes Theatre Alum Award

April 15, 2005

CARROLLTON, GA - The University of West Georgia Theatre Program, in conjunction with the UWG Office of Development and Alumni Relations, is instituting a new tradition: the Theatre Alum of the Year Award. The inaugural award will be presented to Michael Osment on Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. in the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts.

“The Theatre Program has experienced growth in the past two years after the program moved into our own building and was accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre,” noted Shelly Eman, director of theatre. “We want to share these accomplishments with our alums. We have an opportunity to bring the people who created the foundation of this program back into the fold.”

Osment, an actor and acting coach in the film industry in Los Angeles, graduated with a degree in Speech and Theatre in 1983 under the tutelage of Dr. Oliver Link, director of theatre from 1969 - 1990.

When asked about career highlights, Osment states, “Working on two Spielberg films, A.I. and Minority Report, has always been a nice feather in my cap — more for the unique opportunity, experience and playing witness to creative brilliance than any personal pride. I always thought the word ‘genius’ was exaggerative slang until I met Steven.”

“My work as an acting coach to my children and others is important to me,” he continued. “I guess what I'm saying is that, with actors, what we’ve done is not worth mentioning without who we’ve worked with, from whom we gain knowledge and experience. No ‘one man show’ is one man.”

Osment will host a question and answer session for students on Friday and receive his award at a pre-show reception on Sunday prior to the production of The Comedy of Errors in the Townsend Center at 2:30 p.m. Tickets to The Comedy of Errors are $10 and are still available. For ticket information, call 678-839-4722.

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