Juresich Brings Home Grand Award
Oct 9, 2009
Cornerstone University student Kyle Juresich brought home a Grand Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production for his role as the Cat in the Hat in Cornerstone’s production of Seussical the Musical.
The 2009 Grand Awards, held Oct. 4 at the performing arts center at Aquinas College, is Grand Rapids’ version of the Tony Awards. It honors community and college theatre productions in the city. 
Cornerstone Theatre garnered six nominations in total for the annual event. Three of the nominations were for Seussical the Musical with The Turn of the Screw receiving the other three.
Other Cornerstone nominees included: Adam Miller, Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production for Seussical the Musical; Sherry Lee Allen, Outstanding Direction of a College Production for Seussical the Musical; Adam Miller, Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production for The Turn of the Screw; CJ Namenye, Outstanding Lead Actress in a College Production for The Turn of the Screw; and Outstanding College Production for The Turn of the Screw.
“Kyle has such a great energy and charisma on stage,” said Jennifer Hunter, associate professor of theatre. “As Cat in the Hat for Seussical, his comedic timing, dance moves and impromptu bits with the audience were right on! I’m very proud of him and excited that the Grand Rapids community recognized his talented performance with this award.”
Juresich is currently performing as Flint in Something’s Afoot and will play the part of Lysander in this year’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Two Cornerstone theatre students served as "trophy carriers" at the awards this year and Amy Groen, who won Outstanding Lead Actress for Wait Until Dark last year, was a presenter on stage during the event.
Proceeds from ticket sales for the event benefit the Grand Rapids Combined Theatre Scholarship fund, which benefits full-time college students -; mostly theatre majors -; with experience in either community theatre or college theatre programs.
The Cornerstone University 2009-10 theatre season will include performances of Something’s Afoot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Anne of Green Gables and Into the Woods. Tickets are available through the Cornerstone University Bookstore and at the door. All performances are held in Matthews Auditorium at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
For more information about the Grand Awards, visit, www.grgrandawards.4t.com .
For more information about Cornerstone’s theatre program, visit www.cornerstone.edu/academics/theatre.
