By Michael Ayers
NKyTribune Intern
Beechwood High School alumna and University of Kentucky graduate, Hannah Prichard is earning her reputation as a stage performer in Los Angeles.
Prichard won the 2017 Stage Raw Award for best supporting actress for her role in, A Singular They, a new play that opened to rave reviews at L.A.’s Blank Theater.
Hannah Prichard won best supporting actress for, A Singular They.
“This production taught me so much. Did you know that there is a whole group of people who do not identify with either gender or feel comfortable being called ‘he’ or ‘she’? You probably did, but have you ever thought about that individual’s life and what that journey may entail? Thinking of those questions, you can probably imagine how important this production was and will be for any future audiences,” Prichard said.
Reviewer Pauline Adamek wrote for Stage Raw: “An astonishingly edgy, timely and sensitive drama by Aliza Goldstein, A Singular They is making its world premiere at the Blank Theatre — and what a singular play it is.
“Not only does it capture the zeitgeist of the moment with its delicate examination of two highly topical issues — gender fluidity and teenage sexuality — but it offers an intensely personal and unique perspective on the former that is both instructive and deeply affecting.
“The play features three characters: Lily Nicksay plays the pivotal Burbank, a seventeen-year-old high schooler, Burbank’s best friend Dierdre (Hannah Prichard) and a sympathetic teacher Mr. Mazer (Nick Ballard). Most of the scenes are two-handers, with Burbank interacting with either Dierdre or Mr. Mazer (no scenes without Burbank), and all of these two-person scenes interspersed with monologues from Burbank that describe their (meaning Burbank’s) interior world. . .
“. . .A marvelous achievement on all fronts, A Singular They is, in short, a simply brilliant play with a production to match.
“Honestly, there was never a question that she would choose anything other than acting; she loves a stage — loves an audience — but I think she especially loves being part of a good story, using her craft to bring a story to life,” said Vicki Prichard. Hannah’s mom, and a writer. “’A Singular They’ was beautifully written, and I know she was so proud to be part of that production. Watching her diligent pursuit of her passion, her hard work and success, brings me pure joy”
Hannah recently was cast in, The Young Playwrights Festival, alongside familiar faces which will be running through June in Hollywood and was also casted in a production, “The Frigid Duck,” which will have a full run in the fall.
“I am so proud of Hannah for her hard work and drive to pursue her passion,” said her dad, Robert Prichard, head of St. ELizabeth Physicians. “An award like this affirms her dream and hopefully this will be the first of many recognitions of her talent.”
Acting has always been a passion for Hannah
In June she starts filming the webseries, “Game Night,” which is still being tossed around to different platforms but should become available come fall. Throughout the week she is a host for Afterbuzz TV for “13 Reasons Why,” interviewing all the cast members for an after-show which can be found here.
“What people don’t realize are the years it takes and the patience you must have,” Hannah says. “I am still so far away from the things I want to accomplish, but every year I can see that door creak open more and more. And I watch the people I’ve grown with here get closer and closer as well. You have to understand that it all comes in waves, and each time the waves get bigger.”
Hannah graduated from Beechwood High School in 2007, where she performed in school musicals “Annie,” The Pajama Game,” and “Once Upon a Mattress.”
While a student at Beechwood, she also studied at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music’s (CCM) workshops. She earned her BFA in Theatre from the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 2011. After graduating from UK, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
When asked what advice she would give up-and-coming actors, Hannah said, “You may not get the part, but it does not mean you were the worst actor. Believe in what you have to offer. There will be a part for you that no one else can play as good as you.
“And know your worth! To Beechwood thespians specifically, incredible theatre can be performed anywhere, even in a cafeteria with foldout chairs. Hang tight, the celebrities everyone is envying started in the theatre.”
Read the full review from Stage Raw here.
Michael Ayers is an intern for KyForward.com and NKyTribune.com. He will be a senior at the UK School of Journalism and Media and is from Fort Thomas.
