"Go Flicka!" Arts school students send a virtual "shout out" to Oscar nominee, Interlochen alumna Felicity Huffman

INTERLOCHEN, MI - Most people know her as Felicity Huffman, Emmy Award-winner for her role in "Desperate Housewives," and Oscar-nominated Best Actress for her performance in "Transamerica."

Students at Interlochen Arts Academy, the fine arts boarding high school from which Huffman graduated, know her as "Flicka," the nickname she used while at Interlochen for two years, from 1979-81.

This week the students at Interlochen are sending a virtual "good luck" wish to their honored alumna, marrying old-fashioned technology - a large banner - with new technology - a live webcam.

Students today hung a giant "Go Flicka" banner in view of a new live webcam that has been installed on Interlochen's campus. The camera shows construction progress on a new living-learning center for students studying film at Interlochen. For this week, it will serve as a virtual "shout out" to Huffman, one of Interlochen's many successful alumni, filling with signatures and good wishes from current Interlochen students, faculty and staff.

The banner can be seen online by visiting www.interlochen.org.

The students plan to ship the banner to Huffman prior to this Sunday's awards ceremony, which they will watch during a special "black tie optional" Oscar viewing party in The Writing House on Interlochen's 1,200-acre northern Michigan campus.

"At Interlochen, students from all arts majors root for one another, so we thought it would be neat to come together and root for one of our alumni," said Tory Wegerski, a senior Creative Writing student from Syracuse, NY, who helped create the banner.

One of Huffman's Interlochen theatre teachers all but predicted her success, when he said in 1981 during her senior year, "Flicka has all the tools to be an actress on the highest level imaginable - body, voice, beauty, mind, imagination, purpose."

Interlochen Arts Academy is the nation's premier fine arts boarding high school. Interlochen also is home to the nation's oldest and largest summer arts camp. Interlochen alumni include Oscar nominee Tom Hulce, singer/songwriter Jewel, Josh Groban, Norah Jones, CBS newsman Mike Wallace, Jessye Norman, the "Cathy" comic creator, and the conductor of the New York Philharmonic. More than 10 percent of the members of the nation's major orchestras attended Interlochen's high school or summer camp.

"The stars seem to be in a great place for theatre alumni right now," said Dr. David Montee, Director of Theatre Arts at Interlochen. Among the recent successes of Interlochen theatre alumni:

Alexandra Silber. Before she even officially graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama last year she won a leading role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Woman in White" at the Palace Theatre in London's West End.

Tony Awards: Adam Guettell last year won two Tony Awards (Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations) and Victoria Clark won the Tony Award for leading actress, both for their work in "The Light in the Piazza." At the same time, Celia Keenan-Bolger was Tony-nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and Erin Dilly was Tony-nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."

Dermot Mulroney, whose many movie credits include "The Family Stone," "Dante's Inferno" and "My Best Friend's Wedding."

"Interlochen measures its success through the success of its alumni," Interlochen President Jeffrey S. Kimpton said. "Our alumni, who go on to success in a whole host of professions, help us inspire the next generation of artists, creators and innovators."

Huffman, who spent her junior and senior years at Interlochen, was named Senior Honor Student and Senior Academy Honor Student, and received a Fine Arts Award in Theatre Arts.

In 2003 she was named to Interlochen's "Alumni Path of Inspiration," along with alumni including Google co-founder Larry Page, MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient, dancer/choreographer Liz Lerman, and "Rent" star Anthony Rapp.

While a student at Interlochen, Huffman appeared in productions including The Glass Menagerie and The Tempest (archive photos available). Interlochen Arts Academy students typically produce and present more than 250 concerts, performances and exhibitions each year. The fast-paced summer camp produces more than 400 events, making Interlochen one of the largest arts presenters in the nation.

A nonprofit leader in arts education and presentation, Interlochen Center for the Arts is one of the world's most influential and vibrant arts communities, connecting and inspiring creative people of all ages and backgrounds. Areas of study include music, dance, theatre, creative writing, motion picture arts and visual arts. For details, visit www.interlochen.org.

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For photos or more information:
Diane Dupuis
231-276-7856
dupuisdl@interlochen.org

Paul Heaton
231-276-7601
heatonpc@interlochen.org