VIDALIA, La. &045; Susannah Morris fell in love with acting when she performed in her first play as a child.

Now, the Vidalia High School senior is planning to major in theater &045; with the help of a scholarship to Louisiana College. She is one of only three students to achieve the honor this year and will receive nearly $4,000 over four years.

&uot;I was excited,&uot; Morris said.

To be eligible to participate in the competition, students must have at least a 20 ACT score or a 930 SAT score, possess outstanding artistic potential as evidenced by the quality of their auditions or portfolios, have a letter of recommendation from an arts teacher and be invited by a member of the faculty to attend.

Morris’ letter of recommendation for the LC scholarship was written by Susie Boothe, a teacher of fine arts at Vidalia High.

Although Vidalia High does not offer a theater club, Boothe teaches a 12-week course devoted to drama as part of the fine arts program.

&uot;(Morris is) very creative and hard-working,&uot; Boothe said.

On March 15, high school students planning to major in the fine arts had the opportunity to compete for scholarships at the second annual Excellence in the Arts Scholarship Competition at LC, according to Ted Barnes, chair of the school’s Division of Visual and Performing Arts.

Students competed in art, debate, music and theatre. A total of 16 scholarships were awarded.

To be invited to audition for the LC scholarship, Morris first had to perform a monologue and song at LC.

Morris was invited back and performed a monologue from the play &uot;Nuts&uot; and the first verse of the song, &uot;Any Road, Any Cost,&uot; by Point of Grace, both of which she performed at the first audition.

Morris has performed in about 14 or 15 plays and numerous skits at The Corner Stone Church, where she is also a member. &uot;I get a lot of drama parts but I’d like to make people laugh more,&uot; Morris said.

Morris’s grandmother, Betty Reed, is also a member of Corner Stone and has directed most of the plays performed there.

&uot;My grandmom has worked with me the most on it,&uot; Morris said.

Morris will be majoring in theatre when she starts LC in the fall and said she is excited because the theatre houses a production stage unlike any other in the world.

The theatre in the Martin Performing Arts Center at LC has a totally moveable acting and audience area, according to Artistic Director Jim Stacy.

&uot;We try to give students the opportunity to play in different configurations like they would in the real world,&uot; Stacy said.

LC is a private, Baptist, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences. The 81-acre campus is located in the Alexandria-Pineville area.

Although Morris has no desire to become a famous actress she said, &uot;I would like to do at least one Broadway play once in my lifetime.&uot;

After Broadway, Morris said &uot;I think I would like to teach it (theatre) at college or high school and spark the same kind of love I have for it.&uot;

No matter what Morris decides to do in the future, &uot;I think she’s destined for success,&uot; Boothe said.