The Best is Yet to Come is the theme of the 2016 conference of the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts, which is being held on the campus of Grambling State University.
Tico Wells
The conference, which started Wednesday, April 6 and will run through Saturday, April 9, includes workshops, competitions and performances.
In addition to a one-act play festival, competitions include scholarly research presentations, oral interpretation of poetry, oral interpretation of prose, dramatic monologue, persua-sive speaking, reader›s theatre and duo-acting.
The featured artist for NADSA 2016 is Tico Wells, a recipient of The Kennedy Center’s Irene Ryan Acting Excellence Award, for his portrayal of David in James Baldwin’s Amen Corner. He finished his undergrad work at New York University (BFA) in Drama. From there he starred in numerous off-Broadway and regional theatre productions.
In New York City, Wells worked with the famed Negro Ensemble Company and gained his first big national exposure on The Cosby Show, as Dr. Jerry Taylor, who delivered Saundra’s twins.
He has appeared on numerous television shows and in commercials, in New York and Hollywood. He has worked with the likes of Denzel Washington, Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Lee, Al Pacino, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and many other noted personalities.
All performance activities at the conference are open to the public and will take place in the Floyd L. Sandle Theatre of the Conrad Hutcheson Performing Arts Center. Competitions and workshops begin each day at 9 a. m., and evening performances will begin at 7 p.m on Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, April 9, a special banquet and awards ceremony will take place to conclude the celebration. Tickets for the banquet are $30.
For additional information, call 318-274-3225 or 318-274-2892.