Andrew Burnap ’13 sings in the rain—and in the sunshine. This man for all seasons won the prestigious Irene Ryan Competition (from a field of 250 acting nominees from 55 New England schools) giving him the opportunity to compete at the national festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., this spring.

“To borrow a sports term, winning the Irene Ryan is like winning the World Series in college theater,” says Theatre Department Chair Paula McGlasson.

“My family has always supported my love of the arts,” says Burnap, noting that his grandmother, Molly Burnap, is probably his number one fan. “The first time she ever saw me perform was in my grandfather’s top hat and cane on top of my grandmother’s coffee table.”