Theatre Students Recognized at Regional Festival

Thirty students and faculty members of the Department of Theatre attended the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) January 15–21 at Iowa State University, in Ames, Iowa. They participated in competitions and presentations in acting, directing, design technology, stage management, playwriting, dramaturgy, and theater criticism. The festival includes productions, workshops, and galleries for design expos.

MU students have always come home with several awards and recognition from this festival in previous years, and 2012 was no exception. Top recognition was achieved in the areas of acting, playwriting, theater criticism, and stage management.

"This year, we were able to participate fully in the design, technology, and management category thanks to our newest faculty designer, Brad Carlson, who did an outstanding job helping students present their work at the design expo," says David Crespy, associate professor.

In a few weeks, the department will be notified if any of the playwriting students will be invited to the national festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Hannah Baxter, senior, the National Critics Institute National Finalist, has already been invited to the national festival to compete in theater criticism.

Matt Fotis, a doctoral student, won multiple awards in 2011 for three plays — the only playwright in the history of the organization to have that many productions represented. His Nights on the Couch served as the invited production for the 2012 festival. Amanda Newman's one-act play, The Lost Slipper, has been selected to serve in this capacity at the 2013 festival.

"This is the second year in a row that a Mizzou playwright has won that honor and we are thrilled about it," says Crespy.

Founded in 1969, KCACTF is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide, and has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. MU has been an active member of KCACTF since its inception, and Dean Emeritus Larry Clark was a founding member.

TOP HONORS KCACTF-MIZZOU TEAM 2012

(Note: Most achievements are by undergraduate students unless otherwise noted)

ACTING

Tammy Mullins, Irene Ryan acting auditions, regional semi-finalist
Peter Smith, Irene Ryan acting auditions, regional semi-finalist
Naomi Lafond, Irene Ryan acting auditions, regional semi-finalist

DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY, AND MANAGEMENT

Hannah Spratt – stage management competition – honorable mention (out of 40 participating student stage managers)
Kerri Packard (faculty), costume design for MU production of Pride And Prejudice, certificate of merit
Stephanie Juergens, costume design for MU production of The Girl in the Cube, certificate of merit — costume parade
Jarrett Seifert, lighting design for MU production of The Girl in the Cube, certificate of merit
Alecia Brandenburg, sound design for MU production of The Girl in the Cube, certificate of merit
Second place, Golden Hand Truck Award, for exemplary load-in and load-out for the invited production of Nights on the Couch

PLAYWRITING

ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL NATIONAL SEMI-FINALISTS (Potential National Finalists)

The Lost Slipper by Amanda Newman (2013 Invited Production)
Subtraction by Kevin McFillen (graduate student)

NATIONAL KCACTF AWARD-WINNING PLAY CONCERT READING

The Book of Adam by Matt Fotis, (graduate student), 2011 National KCACTF Mark Twain Comedy Award

REGION V KCACTF INVITED PRODUCTION

Nights on the Couch by Matt Fotis, directed by graduate student, Noah Lelek

TEN-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL

Please Wear Red by Amanda Newman, regional finalist

TEN-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL RUNNERS-UP

Dye by Hannah Baxter
Liddy's Way by Kevin McFillen
Slam Dog and Razor Girl by David Marcia

NATIONAL CRITICS INSTITUTE

Hannah Baxter, national finalist
Elizabeth Trovall, regional finalist

By Laura Lindsey, College of Arts and Science
January 27, 2012