Blitgen Receives National Directing Award

Clarke University Professor Emerita Carol Blitgen has again been awarded a national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Award for Excellence in Directing.Blitgen was honored for Distinguished Achievement in the Direction of a Play for her work with “Oleanna.” This is the third consecutive year Blitgen has received this honor. She was previously cited for her work in “The Caretaker” and “The Glass Menagerie.”Clarke presented its production of David Mamet’s “Oleanna” last fall, and then was selected to perform at the American College Theater Festival Region V event held Jan. 19-25 in Lincoln, Neb.Regional Awards for “Oleanna” went to Blitgen for direction, Clarke Associate Professor of Drama Joe Klinebriel for acting, and Clarke student Mary Zanger for acting.More than 220 productions from the six-state Region V (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) were entered for consideration. “Oleanna” was one of five selected to be performed at the Region V Festival. The festival is sponsored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.For more information, contact the Clarke University Marketing and Communication Office at (563)588-6318.Clarke University is a Catholic, liberal arts and sciences university dedicated to preparing students who positively impact their workplace, family and community. Academic offerings include more than 40 undergraduate liberal arts and pre-professional programs, a robust adult degree program and six graduate degree programs.  Founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarke is located near the Mississippi River in the thriving city of Dubuque, Iowa. It is the only BVM university in the country.