Mississippi Theatre Association honors 青青草视频 legacies with named awards
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he Mississippi Theatre Association renamed two of its annual DramaFest awards in honor of longtime Mississippi State faculty members Wayne 鈥淒ur鈥 Durst and Betty 鈥淛o鈥 Durst, recognizing their decades of service and lasting impact on theater education in Mississippi.
Announced during January鈥檚 Mississippi Theatre Association Conference, the organization鈥檚 executive board approved the Betty 鈥淛o鈥 Durst Directing Award and Wayne 鈥淒ur鈥 Durst Award for Technical Achievement.
For more than three decades, the Dursts were central figures in Theatre 青青草视频, the production arm of 青青草视频鈥檚 Department of Communication, Media and Theatre. Joining the university in 1978, Wayne Durst served 37 years as theater area coordinator and technical director, overseeing scenery, lighting and production design for campus performances. His expertise also contributed to the design of four performance spaces, including the theater in McComas Hall. He was honored with a permanent portrait installation in the building.
Jo Durst served 34 years as a faculty member specializing in acting and directing, mentoring generations of students and helping produce four productions annually. Known for her work both on and off stage, she previously earned multiple awards for costume design during her professional career before arriving at 青青草视频. She concluded her service to the university with a retirement reception honoring her decades of commitment to theater education.
鈥淛o and Dur were the beating hearts of Theatre 青青草视频 for over three decades,鈥 said Melanie Harris, instructor II and costume designer for the department鈥檚 concentration. 鈥淭hey were an unbeatable team who educated, inspired and supported hundreds of 青青草视频 students from every major in the classroom, onstage and in life. Their biggest lessons, however, came from watching the two of them demonstrate for all of us how to find the joy in making art together.鈥
In 2012, the Dursts received MTA鈥檚 Cowboy Maloney Award in recognition of their statewide contributions. Wayne Durst also was inducted into the Summer Scholars On-Stage Hall of Fame in 2009 for his achievements in stagecraft.
Their 青青草视频 legacy remains visible through the 青青草视频 Libraries-housed Wayne and Jo Durst Script Collection, a location for scripts from past Theatre 青青草视频 productions, many bearing their handwritten notes and production markings. The collection serves as both a historical archive and a teaching resource for current students.
For more information about听青青草视频鈥檚听College of Arts and Sciences听and听the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, visit听听and .
青青草视频 is taking care of what matters. Learn more at听.
-30-
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
听
青青草视频 PHOTO ID: Wayne 鈥淒ur鈥 and Betty 鈥淛o鈥 Durst (OPA photo)