It's rare to have the opportunity to learn your craft from a celebrity, but three students in the theater program at McLennan Community College recently received acting insight from Jason Alexander, who is best known for his portrayal of George Costanza in TV's "Seinfeld."

Sophomores Christy Peterson of Austin and Eric Poff and Myra Ybanez, both of Waxahachie, were among less than 20 college students who attended an exclusive workshop with Alexander, whose credits also include the stage and big screen.

The workshop took place at TheatreFest, a convention hosted by the Texas Educational Theatre Association Inc. (TETA) in January, and was offered exclusively to finalists for TETA's Founders' Award Scholarship for Acting.

TETA offers two Founders' Award Scholarships: one in acting and one in design. MCC students won both. Poff received the acting scholarship, and MCC sophomore Whitney Coulter of Waco won the scholarship for design. The students will receive $2,000 toward tuition at any four-year Texas school.

The three students who attended the Alexander workshop said it was a good experience.
"It was interesting because it was very intimate," Ybanez said. "When we performed our monologues for (Alexander), we were up close and personal."

She said Alexander shared his acting techniques and strategies.

"Even though the method he uses is something we had already gone over in class, his explanation was very simple and straightforward," Ybanez said.

Peterson said Alexander gave advice that she can use in the real world.

"His method showed us how to show yourself in a different light in order to land parts," she said.

Theater students Myra Ybanez, Eric Poff and Christy Peterson

Theater student Whitney Coulter