GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 23, 2018) – Dr. Erin Naler, assistant professor of theatre at Bob Jones University, has been named as a semi-finalist in the 2017-2018 stage direction division of The American Prize. In consideration for the award, Naler submitted the University’s production of “The Trip to Bountiful” which she directed in 2017.
Naler earned a BS in speech education and a MA in dramatic production from BJU as well as a PhD in humanities, aesthetic studies from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Naler teaches a variety of theatre courses at BJU, including Theories of Theatre & Performance, Theatre History Survey, Stage Directing, Incarnation & the Humanities, and Theatre History for the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries, and has appeared in several of BJU’s major theatre productions.
“Erin’s production of ‘The Trip to Bountiful’ was beautifully crafted on stage under her superb direction,” said Dr. Darren Lawson, dean of BJU’s School of Fine Arts and Communication. “We are very proud of her accomplishment and recognition by the American Prize judges in advancing to the semi-final round in the competition.”
Founded in 2009, the American Prize is a series of new, non-profit national competitions in the performing arts awarded annually. The competitions provide cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States at the professional, college/university, church, community and secondary school levels.
Finalists and winners of The American Prize will be announced in the next several months.
