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.
Overview
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.
Regions
KCACTF has divided up the United States in 8 separate regions. There are:
| Region | States |
|---|---|
| 'Region I | |
| Region II | |
| Region III | |
| Region IV | |
| Region V | |
| Region VI | |
| Region VII | |
| Region VIII |
California is split between Regions 7 & 8. |
National Committee Personnel
- 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
National Award Winners (Productions)
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.
National Award Winners (Directing)
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.
National Award Winners (Acting)
| Year | Actress | Role - Production | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Jacquelyne Jones | as Diana in Next to Normal | Utah Valley University |
| 2014 | Rachel Staton | Ensemble in The Laramie Project | University of Mississippi |
| 2013 | Abby Vombrack | as Anna Fierling in Mother Courage | Illinois State University |
| 2013 | Elizabeth Golden | as Ursula in Vincent In Brixton | Utah Valley University |
| 2012 | Rene Michelle Aranda [2] | as Willy the Space Freak in The Unseen Hand [3] | Los Angeles City College, Theatre Academy |
| 2012 | Haley Jane Pierce | as Clara Ann Fowler in Flipside: The Patti Page Story | University of Central Oklahoma |
| Year | Actress | Role - Production | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | James Weschler | as Kafka in Kafka in Tel Aviv | Salem State University |
| 2013 | Nathan Burke | Ensemble in The Laramie Project | University of Mississippi |
| 2013 | Jonathan Amaro | as Platero in Platero y Yo | University of Puerto Rico |
| 2012 | John Stewart | as Frederick Douglass/Jim in Splittin' the Raft | Kennesaw State University |
| 2012 | Dylan Frederick | as Hallie in Master Harold and the Boys | University of Evansville |
National Award Winners (Choreography)
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.
National Award Winners (Design)
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.
National Award Winners (Additional)
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
Irene Ryan Scholarship Winners
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 of 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, Brighman 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, Brighman 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, William and Mary College & 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 & D. Rhett Wickham, University of South Florida
- 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, Rutger 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