BGSU Firelands’ Wingerter earns prestigious theatre award

Gretchen Lynne Wingerter, a BGSU Firelands College theatre faculty member, has been awarded the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Gold Medallion for her contributions to college theatre. 

Recipients of the Gold Medallion, one of the organization's most prestigious awards, are recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and for dedication of time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center festival. The award was announced at the organization’s regional conference, held earlier this month at Cleveland State University.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival organization encourages, recognizes and celebrates the finest and most diverse works produced in university and college theatre programs throughout the country.

Wingerter has been teaching and directing theatre at BGSU Firelands since 2012. Her carefully selected productions are educational tools for students, but also serve as a means of engaging the community and providing an opportunity for cultural enrichment.

Her productions at BGSU Firelands have included “The Glass Menagerie,” “Proof,” “Little Women,” "The Tempest," and most recently, “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” which was selected to be performed as part of the Fringe Festival at the KCACTF Regional Festival at Cleveland State.

Her next production at BGSU Firelands, “Love and Whiskey,” a world-premiere presentation, will run April 9-12.

Wingerter is also credited with the creation and development of the 24-Hour Theatre Festival at BGSU Firelands, which challenges aspiring playwrights, directors and actors to write, rehearse and perform original short plays all within a 24-hour period.

Throughout Wingerter’s 22-year theatre career she has directed more than 30 productions. She is the artistic director of the Sandusky State Theatre Repertory Company and currently serves as vice chair for Region 2 of the Kennedy Center theatre festival. She earned a master of fine arts degree in directing from the University of Idaho and a bachelor of arts in acting from Illinois State University.