Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theatre program dedicated to the improvement of collegiate theatre in the United States. Focused on the celebration of diverse and exciting theatre, KCACTF involves students from more than 600 colleges and universities throughout the United States. While the culmination of the KCACTF is the national festival held in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center, the majority of students involved in the program compete in one of eight regional competitions. Over 18,000 students are involved in at least one aspect of KCACTF. Although the national festival is intended to be the pinnacle of the collegiate theatre year and not necessarily a competition, there are a number of scholarships and awards presented throughout the week, including the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships. Other competitions include playwriting, directing, set design, costume design, lighting design, sound design, and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre critic's institute and dramaturgy awards, including the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award. KCACTF has divided up the United States in 8 separate regions. There are: Gregg Henry - Co-Manager, Artistic Director Susan Shaffer - Co-Manager, Administration Mark Kuntz - National Chair Dr. Harry Parker - National Vice-Chair Karen Anselm - Member at Large Mark Charney - National Coordinator for the Critic's Institute Michael Dempsey - National Theatrical Design Chair Catherine Norgren - ATHE Liaison John Uthoff - USITT Representative Kate Snodgrass - National Chair of Michael Kanin New Plays Program Roger Hall - National Vice Chair of NPP Gary Garrison - NPP Member at Large Previous Award Recipients Production Awards The productions below have been recognized for their outstanding achievement. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category have been recognized for distinguished achievement. Outstanding Production of a Play 2014 - Pentecost by David Edgar, Middlebury College 2013 - Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University 2012 - Six Characters adapted from Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author, Iowa State University. Outstanding Production of a Musical 2014 - Next to Normal book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, Utah Valley University 2013 - Godspell, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by John-Michael Tebelak, California State University, Fullerton 2012 - Flipside: The Patti Page Story by Greg White, University of Central Oklahoma. Outstanding Production of a New Work 2014 - Decision Height by Meredith Levy, Hollins University 2013 - Platero y Yo by Juan Ramon Jimenez, adapted for the stage by Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson, University of Puerto Rico 2012 - The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University. Outstanding Production of a Devised Work 2014 - Pool '63 by Philip Valle and members of the Company, Cuesta College 2013 - Dromnium, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith 2012 - Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. Outstanding Production of a Modern Classic 2013 - Mother Courage, Illinois State University 2012 - Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. The individuals below have been recognized for their direction of plays, musicals, classic and devised works, and new plays and musicals. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category; those individual artists under consideration, have been recognized for distinguished achievement. Outstanding Career Achievement in Directing 2012 - John David Lutz, Master Harold and the Boys, University of Evansville. This production marked John David Lutz's 24th production showcased at Regional Festivals since 1971. Six of these productions were additionally showcased at the National Festival at the Kennedy Center. In 2007, by special invitation, his University of Evansville production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors was one of the Kennedy Center's contributions to the "Shakespeare in Washington" celebration. Outstanding Director of a Play 2014 - Richard Romagnoli and Cheryl Faraone for Pentecost, Middlebury College 2013 - Christopher Clark for Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University 2012 - Matt Foss for Six Characters, adapted from Luigi Pirandello, Iowa State University. Outstanding Director of a Classic 2012 - Maria Porter for Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. Outstanding Director of a Musical 2014 - David Tinney, Next to Normal, Utah Valley University 2013 - Jim Taulli and Craig Tyrl for Godspell, California State University, Fullerton. 2012 - Greg White for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma. Outstanding Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work 2014 - Bree Valle, Pool '63, Cuesta College 2013 - Leslie Ferreira, Tina Kronis and Richard Alger, Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College, Theatre Academy. 2012 - Rich Brown, Us, Western Washington University. Outstanding Director of a New Work 2014 - Peter Sampieri for Kafka in Tel Aviv, Salem State University 2013 - Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson for Platero y Yo by Juan Ramón Jiménez, University of Puerto Rico. 2012 - Beth Turcotte for The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University. Outstanding Choreography or Movement Direction 2014 - Tori Lee Averett for The Single Girl's Guide, Troy University. 2013 - Bob Stevenson with Ian Miller, Phil Whiteaker, Aron Long, Laura Wineland, Stuart Campbell, Ashley Behm, and Joseph Rodriguez-Barberá for Dromnium, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith 2012 - Skye Edwards for Gone Missing, Hope College. Outstanding Scenic Design 2014 - Mark Evancho, Pentecost, Middlebury College 2013 - Stephen Purdy, Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University 2013 - Shannon Meyer, Ghost Bike, Carthage College. 2012 - Christopher and Justin Swader, The Circus in Winter, Ball State University. Outstanding Sound Design 2013 - L.J. Luthringer, Dromnium, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. 2012 - Sun Hee Kil, Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma. Outstanding Costume Design 2014 - Elisa Bierschenk, The Single Girl's Guide, Troy University 2013 - JenNessa Law, Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University 2012 - Caroline Spitzer, The House of the Spirits, Florida International University. Outstanding Lighting Design 2014 - Michael Gray, Next to Normal, Utah Valley University 2014 - Raquel Davis, Three Sisters, Boise State University 2013 - Hannah Yaeger, Dromnium, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. 2012 - Matt Meldrem, Six Characters, Iowa State University. Outstanding Performance by a Guest Artist 2012 - Lindsie Van Winkle as Patti in Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma Outstanding Achievement in Composition 2013 - Zack Powell for Mother Courage, Illinois State University Outstanding Performance and Production Ensembles 2013 - Platero y Yo, University of Puerto Rico 2013 - Dromnium, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith A list of the Irene Ryan Scholarship winners, the partners that assisted their wins, and the colleges they represented, spanning from 1972 to 2013: 2013 - Oya Bangura assisted by Bryan Nee, Suffolk County Community College & Ethan Leaverton assisted by Cameron Miller-DeSart, University of Nevada 2012 - Kevin Percivall assisted by Laurel Sein, University of Oklahoma & James Udom assisted by Brian Smick, Diablo Valley College 2011 - Clayton Joyner assisted by Zachary Powell, Illinois State University & Daniel Molina assisted by Kelly Rogers, Savannah College of Art and Design 2010 - Whitney Morgan Cox assisted by John Dodart, Dixie State University, Utah & Paul Stuart assisted by Colin Ryan, University of Oklahoma 2009 - Adam Navarro assisted by Courtney Howe, California State University & Meredith Hinckely assisted by Paul Collins California State University 2008 - Ari Frenkel assisted by Tim Hackney, Montclair State University & Joe Gillette assisted by Peter Weisman, California State University 2007 - Courtney Moors assisted by Michael Cox, University of Central Florida & Chris Crawford assisted by Jenna Kirk, University of Arkansas 2006 - Rory Lipede assisted by Adam Flores, Fontbonne University & Michael Swickard assisted by Margaret-Ellen Jenkins, University of Central Florida 2005 - Amanda Folena, Purdue University & Stephen Laferriere, Salem State College 2004 - Christopher Grant, University of Evansville & Jason Roth, University of Maryland 2003 - Ruby DesJardins, Suffolk University & Letitia James, Virginia Commonwealth University 2002 - Kelly Bartlett, Iowa State University & Sarah Stockton, University of Portland 2001 - Nancy McNulty, Salem State University & Jason Buuck, California State University 2000 - Nisi Sturgis, University of Central Arkansas & Ben Steinfeld, Brown University 1999 - Megan Dillingham, University of Kansas, Lawrence & Rian Jairell, University of Wyoming 1998 - Hattie Davis, Emporia State University, Kansas & Christopher Ross, University of Nebraska-Omaha 1997 - Stephanie Breinholt, Brigham Young University & Esau Pritchett, Oakland University 1996 - Mireille Enos, Brigham Young University & Gabriel Fazio, Suffolk Community College 1995 - Gretchen Cleevely, Miami University of Ohio & Aidan Sullivan, Middlebury College 1994 - Lara Jo Hightower, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville & Kevin P. Rahm, Brigham Young University 1993 - Maria Santucci, Kansas State University, Manhattan & David Bryan Woodside, University of Iowa 1992 - Max Baker, Washington State University, Pullman & Thomas Silcott, Salem State University 1991 - Scott Claflin, Brigham Young University & Heather K. Wilson, University of South Dakota 1990 - Kelly Eviston, Northern Kentucky University & Jeff Lieber, University of Illinois 1989 - Blondale Funderburk, South Carolina State College & Kelly Bertenshaw, University of Minnesota 1988 - Judith Hawking, California Institute of the Arts & Elaine Gallagher, Linfield College 1987 - Melodie Garrett, North Carolina A&T & Brett Rickaby, University of Minnesota 1986 - Kevin Hardesty, University of Kentucky & Tim Gregory, Otterbein College 1985 - David Studwell, Purdue University & Brad Moniz, California State University 1984 - Julia Campbell, Webster College & Gerry McIntyre, Montclair State College 1983 - Don Reilly, College of William & Mary & Jodi Ewen, University of Evansville 1982 - Ron Marasco, Fordham University & Christina Stinson, University of Evansville 1981 - Andrea Huber, Illinois Wesleyan University & Melinda McCrary, Webster College 1980 - Mark Tymchyshyn, Wayne State University & Julia Glander, University of Iowa 1979 - Larry LoVerde, Rhode Island College & Sharon Rolf, University of Evansville 1978 - Saundra Lane Daniel, University of Montevallo & Jeff J. Redford, Cerritos College 1977 - Lynn Topping, Indiana State University & Albert Rodriquez, University of New Mexico 1976 - Rebecca J. Guy, University of Evansville & Kathy Monteleone, Park College 1975 - John M. Doyle, University of Florida & Dan Butler, Indiana University 1974 - Anne Sward, University of Miami & Sheryl L. Ralph, Douglass College, Rutgers University 1973 - Kathleen Couser, North Texas State University & Jeffrey Ware, University of Maryland 1972 - Joyce D. Hanley, Hofstra University & Michael Biers, United States International University Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Website