On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the brilliant actors of Prairie View A&M University’s drama program, the Charles Gilpin Players, won the Critics’ Choice Award for their rendition of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” at the American College Theater Festival in Amarillo, Texas. Not only were the Gilpins chosen for the Critics’ Choice Award and advancement in the competition, but four individual members received recognition for their outstanding performances and costume design.
Actors Derrick Stokes, Asteko Factor, and actress Kiana Alford, were all acknowledged for their extraordinary performances and each received an Irene Ryan Award. In addition, Lekethia Dalcoe, an actress, costume designer, and constructionist won the award for best costume design.
“We receive awards all the time,” said Stokes. “But it has been four or five years since the Charles Gilpin Players have received a nomination to advance,” he added.
This year, however, the Gilpins not only obtained a nomination for advancement, but also plan to dominate the next competition with the skill and dedication of the many talented members of the cast and production crew of “The Tempest.”
Stokes said, “The other schools performed for themselves and forgot about the audience.” We walked onto the stage with the attitude that we wanted to perform, not because we had to, but because we wanted to blow everyone else out of the water.”
“We went out there and did what we had to do and we were the only ones who received a standing ovation,” said Dalcoe.
The festival also displayed a collage of talents from many different colleges and universities, including West Texas A&M, Amarillo Junior College, East New Mexico University, UTEP (El Paso), as well as Prairie View A&M University.
“I didn’t feel like I was competing, I felt like I was proving that the Charles Gilpin Players still had that spice and that we’re not dead,” said Stokes.