At the recent John F. Kennedy Center American College Theater (KCACTF) Festival, Region I, the Theatre Department continued its long track record of producing award-winning students and productions. “We outdid ourselves” this year, says Sheila Hickey Garvey, professor of theatre. Students and their work received the following honors at the festival, held at Western Connecticut State University last month:
KCACTF Region I Invited Production
Almost, Maine
Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions
Semi-Finalists:
Marcelle Morrisey – Candidate
Teddy Hall – Partner
National Institute for Journalism and Advocacy
Region 1 Award Winner:
Kiernan Norman
Dramaturgy Program Note Regional Award for Our Country’s Good
Kiernan Norman
National Award for Excellence in Lighting Design
First Runner-up:
Christine Parrella for Tempus Fugit
Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award
Christine Parrella for Tempus Fugit
Merit Awards
Presented to: The Ensemble Cast of Almost, Maine
For Outstanding Ensemble Acting
Presented to: The Ensemble Cast of Our Country’s Good
For Distinction in Multiple Dialects
Presented to: JT McLoughlin of RENT
For Sound Engineering/Mixing
Directed by Garvey, Almost, Maine was one of just six productions selected for presentation out of almost 150 submissions entered from colleges across New England and New York. Garvey describes the play as “a delightful comedy/romance with cosmic overtones” and says the invitation to perform at the festival was “a great honor.” Written by playwright and actor John Cariani, the play has a small cast of eight and a minimal set, designed for the SCSU production by Theatre Professor John Carver Sullivan, who also designed the costumes.
Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center’s founding chairman, KCACTF is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design. It has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country that enables theater departments and student artists to showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents.
In January and February of each year, regional festivals showcase the finest of each region’s entered productions and offer a variety of activities, including workshops, symposia, and regional-level award programs.
