KCACTF National Festival 2013
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 120 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 45th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 15-20, 2013. From January 8 through March 3, 2013, thousands of student artists from eight regions presented their work and more than 120 were selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for an expenses-paid trip to participate in National Festival events taking place at the Kennedy Center.
The National Festival includes short play readings featuring the finalists of the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play and the KCACTF Ten-Minute Play Award; public auditions for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships; the opportunity for participants to take part in master classes and engage with colleagues from across the nation and the Washington, D.C. theater community; and a closing day ceremony for awards in production, directing, choreography, acting, writing, design, stage management, dramaturgy, and theater criticism.
Developed by Roger L. Stevens, Kennedy Center Founding Chairman, KCACTF is dedicated to encouraging, recognizing, and celebrating the finest and most diverse work produced in college and university theater programs. The eight regional festivals and national festival provide an opportunity for college and university theater departments to present their work, especially new or student-written work, and to receive outside assessment. Since its establishment in 1969, KCACTF has reached all 50 states and almost 18 million theatergoers, students, and teachers nationwide.
Events Open to the Public
TEN-MINUTE PLAY READINGS
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Terrace Theater, FREE (a Millennium Stage event)
Approximately 120 student-written Ten-Minute Play submissions are received at each of the eight KCACTF regional festivals (totaling nearly 1,000 submissions). A select few from the regional festival are chosen as a national finalist. One playwright will receive a cash award of $500.
Tattoo You
by Lisa Kenner Grissom, Lesley University; directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner
Disconnect
by Caity Shea Violette, University of Minnesota-Duluth; directed by Lee Mikesha Gardner
Washing Up
by Milbre Burch, University of Missouri; directed by Rob Urbinati
Like Pigeons
by Nate Harpél, Savannah College of Art and Design; directed by Rob Urbinati
Additionally, there will be a reading of a selection from the recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting Award:
A Second Birth
by Ariel Mitchell, Brigham Young University, directed by Colin Hovde.
INVITED PRODUCTION: PLATERO Y YO
Presented by the University of Puerto Rico
By Juan Ramón Jiménez,
adapted for the theater by Julia Thompson & MarÃa Eugenia Mercado
Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Terrace Theater, FREE (a Millennium Stage event)
One of the great classics of modern Spanish literature is adapted for the stage with music, masks, and movement. This gentle story, from the early 20th century, of a Poet and his Donkey, their encounters with small town life, and the animals all around them, is a much loved family favorite. Juan Ramon Jimenez wrote over 70 books and collections of poems, winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1956. The KCACTF award recipient for Outstanding Performance and Production Ensemble. Presented by the University of Puerto Rico Department of Drama. Performed in Spanish with English language captioning.
THE IRENE RYAN ACTING SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS
Friday, April 19, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Terrace Theater, $20
The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education and professional development. Each year, up to 300 nominees audition at each of the eight regional festivals. Two performers and their scene partners from each region are invited to attend the national festival to audition for the national scholarships. Each of the 16 regional finalists receive a $500 scholarship and week-long, expenses-paid trip to the national festival, where an adjudicating panel made up of artistic directors, actors, producers, and casting agents view the audition presentations of monologues, scenes, and songs. Two $3,000 scholarships will be awarded and scholarship finalists are also eligible for prestigious summer fellowships. The national scholarships and performance awards will be announced at the end of the conclusion of the auditions on Friday, April 19 in the Terrace Theater. The 2013 finalists include:
Myles Bullock, assisted by Molly Kelly, California State University-Fresno
Jessica Henderson, assisted by Arielle Yoder, University of Northern Colorado
Kiayla Jackson, assisted by Angelica Richardson, Bradley University
Matthew August Jeffers, assisted by Cailin Shanahan, Towson University
Lindsey Kite, assisted by Andrew Gallop, Oklahoma University
Rachel Ladd, assisted by Sean Morris, Dean College
Ethan Leaverton, assisted by Cameron Miller-DeSart, University of Nevada-Reno
Rusty Myers, assisted by Lexee Longwell, Saginaw Valley State University
Alex Piper, assisted by Kristopher Kuss, University of Southern Mississippi
Brooke Reynolds, assisted by Kamron McClure, Oklahoma University
Anthony Stratton, assisted by Morgan Griffin, Saint Ambrose University
Meg Stefanowicz, assisted by Ben Deane, West Chester University
Caity Shea Violette, assisted by Daniel Novick, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Antonio Woodard, assisted by Joseph Batiste, Alabama State University
Ryan Woods, assisted by Taylor Abels, California State University-Fresno
Additional Events
THE JOHN CAUBLE SHORT PLAY AWARDS PROGRAM This program recognizes outstanding one-act plays. Four finalists have been selected to showcase their work at the national festival at the Kennedy Center. One playwright will be awarded a $500 prize. Awards will be announced at the closing day awards ceremony at the Kennedy Center at 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. Concert readings of these plays, featuring distinguished actors from the Washington, D.C. theater community, will be presented throughout the national festival and are by invitation only.
Interested parties should contact KCACTF@kennedy-center.org for schedule and more information.
The 2013 national finalists include:
The Lighthouse, by Michael Parsons, Boston University
Losing Sight, by Kevin Ferguson, Hollins University
Thirty Deep, by Jordan Morille, Texas State University-San Marcos
Germs and Viruses, by Kirt Shineman, Arizona State University
Rudy, by Haygen Walker, University of the Arts, Philadelphia
MASTER CLASSES
Regional nominees and award-winners in the categories of performance, directing, playwriting, and dramaturgy, design, dramatic criticism, and stage management take part in master classes with artists from across the nation and
the Washington, D.C. theater community.
KCACTF National Festival 2014
The KCACTF National Festival for 2014 is on April 14-19, 2014.
