Boot and Buskin’s recent production of “Rhinoceros” has been nominated for several awards by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Senior English major Jake Ellison, senior communications major Lauren Pisano and junior theater arts and history major Tyler Sperrazza all received nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. Freshman theatre arts major Vince Randazzo has been named as an alternate. The nominees have the option of competing for the scholarship in the regional festival Jan. 24-29 at Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Mass.

In addition, senior theater arts major Justin Sullivan will be attending a directing workshop. The show itself may or may not be held at the festival; the cast and crew won’t get final word until sometime in December. Either way, director Matt Chiorini is ecstatic.

“This year, about 150 productions registered for the regional festival and only about five or six are actually held,” Chiorini said. “If we’re held, we’d be one of 40 or 50 productions nationwide. If we’re asked, we’ll absolutely go and we will strut our stuff.”

“It’s exciting,” Pisano said of her nomination and the festival in general. “It’s a great opportunity to see other college students perform and to meet and talk to people who have similar interests. It’s a lot of theater crammed into one week.”

For his part, Chiorini believes this is a big step up for the theater arts program at Le Moyne.

“We’re thrilled and honored,” Chiorini said. “A distinction like this is very validating and encouraging for LMC theater. It’s a small program, but a mighty one. We can definitely hold our own.”