KCACTF's 45th Annual Festival Kicks Off in D.C. Today

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts previously announced national awardees for outstanding work from the regional festivals that were held January 8 through March 3, 2013. Individual awardees and a representative from each of the outstanding productions will travel to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for an expenses-paid trip to participate in the 45th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), today, April 15-20, 2013.

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 nearly 18 million theatergoers, students, and teachers nationwide.

A full listing of the national awards announced to date appears below. These awards, along with those selected during the National Festival week, will be presented at the closing of KCACTF on Saturday, April 20, at 12 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Family Theater.

This year, productions from universities invited to the eight regional festivals, in addition to showcasing their collaborative accomplishments for an audience of more than 1,000 theater artists, were eligible for recognition for national awards celebrating outstanding achievement. A selection panel consisting of members of the KCACTF National Committee, Executive Committee, and the KCACTF Artistic Director met over the eight weeks of the regional festival calendar to discuss the work. At the conclusion of the final festival at Centenary College of Louisiana, the selection panel made the award decisions described below.

What follows is a list of the productions and individuals recognized for outstanding achievement. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category-those productions and individual artists under consideration for these national awards-have been recognized for distinguished achievement.

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
· Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University.

Outstanding Production of a Musical
· Godspell, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by John-Michael Tebelak, California State University-Fullerton.

Distinguished Production of a Musical: Spring Awakening, music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, based on the play by Frank Wedekind, Sam Houston State University.

Outstanding Production of a New Work
· Platero y Yo by Juan Ramón Jiménez, adapted for the stage by Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson, University of Puerto Rico.

Distinguished Productions of a New Work: Ghost Bike by Laura Jacqmin, Carthage College; Erin Go Bragh-Less by John Shea, Boston University; and Bellocq's Ophelia, Hollins University.

Outstanding Production of a Devised Work
· Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Distinguished Productions of a Devised Work: Insula, Montclair State University; Playing Dirty, Allegheny College; and Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy.

Outstanding Production of a Modern Classic
· Mother Courage by Bertolt Brecht, Illinois State University.

Distinguished Production of a Modern Classic: The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

DIRECTING AWARDS

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 Director of a Play
· Christopher Clark for Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University.

Distinguished Directors of a Play: Carol Blitgen for The Glass Menagerie, Clarke University; Amy Feinberg for The Walls, University of the Arts; Steven Lantz-Gefroh for The Foreigner, Suffolk University; and Sandi Zielinski for Mother Courage, Illinois State University.

Outstanding Director of a Musical
· Jim Taulli and Craig Tyrl for Godspell, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by John-Michael Tebelak, California State University-Fullerton.

Distinguished Director of a Musical: Greg Graham for Spring Awakening, music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, based on the play by Frank Wedekind, Sam Houston State University.

Outstanding Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work
· Leslie Ferreira, Tina Kronis, and Richard Alger, Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy.

Distinguished Lead Devisers/Directors of a Devised Work: Kari Margolis, Insula, Montclair State University; and Bob Stevenson, Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Outstanding Director of a New Work
· Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson for Platero y Yo by Juan Ramón Jiménez, University of Puerto Rico.

Distinguished Directors of a New Work: Hondo Weiss-Richmond for Erin Go Bragh-Less by John Shea, Boston University; Mark Brotherton for Last Chance, University of Central Florida; and Herschel Kruger for Ghost Bike, Carthage College.

CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD

The individuals below have been recognized for their choreography of musicals and classic plays. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category-those individual artists under consideration-have been recognized for distinguished achievement.

Outstanding Choreography
· 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.

Distinguished Achievement in Choreography: Jim Taulli and Craig Tyrl for Godspell, California State University-Fullerton; Lexi Mondot for Bellocq's Ophelia, Hollins University; Tina Kronis for Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy; Jonathan Charles for Enron, Sam Houston State University; Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson for Platero y Yo, University of Puerto Rico; and Greg Graham for Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.

DESIGN AWARDS

The individuals below have been recognized for their outstanding achievement in design. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category-those individual artists under consideration-have been recognized for distinguished achievement.

Outstanding Scenic Design (2)
· Stephen Purdy, Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University;

AND

· Shannon Meyer, Ghost Bike, Carthage College.

Distinguished Achievement in Scenic Design: Cocol Bernal, A Streetcar Named Desire, Albright University; Ernest Zulia and John Forsman, Bellocq's Ophelia, Hollins University; and Liz Freese, Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.

Outstanding Sound Design
· L.J. Luthringer, Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Distinguished Achievement in Sound Design: Justin Glombicki, In The Soundless Awe, Concordia University Chicago; Natasha Cox and Vern Yonemura, Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy; Tony Brown, Insula, Montclair State University; and Simon Skluzacek, Ghost Bike, Carthage College.

Outstanding Costume Design
· JenNessa Law, Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University.

Distinguished Achievement in Costume Design: Emily Billington for The Importance Of Being Earnest, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Abel Alvarado and Cita Lena Lee for Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy; and Brittany Powers for Mother Courage, Illinois State University.

Outstanding Lighting Design
· Hannah Yaeger for Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Distinguished Achievement in Lighting Design: Charles Monte for Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter, University of Idaho; Martin McClendon for Ghost Bike, Carthage College; and Eric Marsh for Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.

The Allied Design and Technologies Award
This award is open to students who have completed major crafts or technology projects in areas including (but not limited to) makeup, projection, properties, millinery, masks, tech, wigs, scenic art, draping & tailoring, technical direction, puppets, special effects, costume craft, and audio engineering. Each of the recipients will receive an expenses-paid five-day residency at the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in late March.

2013 recipients:

· Rachel Perry, Eastern Connecticut State University (Projection Design)

· Krista Intranuovo, Adelphi University (Mask Design)

· Dan Thielen, Hillsdale College (Mask Design)

· Brittney Harrell, University of South Alabama (Mask Design)

· MATHEW FOSTER, Normandale Community College (Properties)

· Ethan Hartman, University of Oklahoma (Properties)

· Elizabeth Carlson, Eastern Washington University (Properties)

· Glenn Starr, Mesa Community College (Technical Direction)

ACTING AWARDS

The individuals below have been recognized for their achievement in plays and musicals. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category-those individual artists under consideration-have been recognized for distinguished achievement.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress (2)
· Abby Vombrack as Anna Fierling in Mother Courage, Illinois State University;

AND
· Elizabeth Golden as Ursula in Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University

Distinguished Achievement:

Victoria Villareal, Wendla in Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University
Jessie Tidball, Tilly in Melancholy Play, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Erin Archer, Beverly in The Receptionist, Community College of Rhode Island
Shawnee Johnson, Margaret Fuller in Charm, Weber State University
Katelynn Schiller, Waki/Traveler, Icarus, Central Washington University
Ashley Behm, Beth in Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Outstanding Performance by an Actor
· Jonathan Amaro as Platero in Platero y Yo, University of Puerto Rico

Distinguished Achievement:

Michael Files, Charlie in The Foreigner, Suffolk Community College
Kevin Rose, Jesus in Godspell, California State University-Fullerton

Outstanding Performance and Production Ensembles (2)
· Platero y Yo, University of Puerto Rico

AND

· Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Distinguished Achievement:

Godspell, California State University-Fullerton

Bellocq's Ophelia, Hollins University

Insula, Montclair State University
Playing Dirty, Allegheny College
Erin Go Bragh-Less, Boston University
Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University
Bronze Star, Citrus College
Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy

Outstanding Achievement in Composition
· Zack Powell for Mother Courage, Illinois State University.

PLAYWRITING AWARDS

The Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program
This program encourages and supports the development of student-written plays through a variety of honors, including fellowships at the Lark Play Development Center's Residency at New York Stage & Film, the Orchard Project, Sundance Theatre Lab, the Cape Cod Theatre Project, O'Neill Playwrights' Conference, the Playwrights' Center of Minneapolis, the Kennedy Center's Summer Playwriting Intensive, potential publication contracts, membership in the Dramatists Guild of America, and cash awards.

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting Award
· Ariel Mitchell of Brigham Young University for A Second Birth.

The KCACTF National Undergraduate Playwriting Award
· Tyler Dean of University of Michigan for From Such Great Heights.

The Ken Ludwig Playwriting Scholarship
· Rita Anderson of Texas State University-San Marcos.

The Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting recognizes the outstanding student-written play that celebrates diversity and concerns issues of gender and sexuality.
· Abe Koogler of University of Texas at Austin for Kill Floor.

The runner-up is Andrew Hinderaker of University of Texas at Austin for Colossal.

The KCACTF Theater for Young Audiences Award, in association with the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences Program
· Emily Freeman of University of Texas at Austin for And Then Came Tango.

The KCACTF Musical Theater Award
· John Watts (music) and Alex Eisen (book and lyrics) of SUNY New Paltz for The Dark I Know.

The David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award in association with Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE) is presented in an effort to promote the writing and production of new plays in memory of David Mark Cohen, who was Professor of Playwriting, University of Texas at Austin.
· Laura Jacqmin for And When We Woke There Was Light And Light, premiered by the University of Oklahoma.

The runner-up is Larry Loebell for Girl Science, premiered by Arcadia University.

Third place goes to A Second Birth by Ariel Mitchell, Brigham Young University.

The KCACTF Award for Latino Playwriting
· J. Isabel Salazar of California Institute of the Arts for No Comas.

The Paul Stephen Lim Playwriting Award, recognizing the outstanding play written by a student of Asian or Pacific Rim heritage, and sponsored by the University of Kansas Foundation
· Michael Yichao Wang of California Institute of the Arts for Lunatic Sun and Goose.

The Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, presented in memory of the distinguished dramatist to the outstanding KCACTF student-written play on the subject of the African American experience.
· Nathan Davis of Indiana University for The Wind And The Breeze.

The runner-up is Bianca Sams of Ohio University for Battle Cry.

Third place goes to Delta Secret by Prince Duren, University of Arkansas.

The Jean Kennedy Smith Playwriting Award, supported by VSA-the International Organization on Arts and Disability-and presented to the student-written play that best explores the human experience of living with a disability.
· Andrew Hinderaker of University of Texas at Austin for Colossal.

The runner-up is J.C. Pankratz of DePauw University for Joyless Eye.

The National Finalists of the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play
· Michael Parsons of Boston University for The Lighthouse

· Kevin Ferguson of Hollins University for Losing Sight

· Jordan Morille of Texas State University-San Marcos for Thirty Deep

· Kirt Shineman of Arizona State University for Germs And Viruses

· Haygen Walker of University of the Arts, Philadelphia for Rudy.

The National Finalists of the KCACTF Ten-Minute Play Award
· Nate Harpél of Savannah College of Art and Design for Like Pigeons

· Milbre Burch of University of Missouri for Washing Up

· Caity Shea Violette of University of Minnesota-Duluth for Disconnect

· Lisa Kenner Grissom of Lesley University for Tattoo You.

The Rosa Parks Playwriting Award
· Michael Parsons of Boston University for Homeland.

The runner-up is Bianca Sams of Ohio University for Battle Cry.

The Mark Twain Prize for Comic Playwriting (2)
· Rick Park of Boston University for Gay Guy, Fat Girl

AND
· Joshua Levine of Rutgers University for Homemade.

The National Partners of the American Theater Playwriting Award
This playwriting award, in its fourth year and sponsored by National Partners of the American Theater (NAPAT), recognizes an outstanding playwright selected from eight nominated playwrights. The award recipient will receive an expenses-paid residency to attend the "Playwriting and Transition to Media" seminar at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, led by Sean Clark, an alumni of the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards program and the writer/producer of Early Edition, Slider, Coach, and Evening Shade.

The recipient of the National Partners of the American Theater Playwriting Award is Meredith Levy, Hollins University, for Decision Height.

The KCACTF Undergraduate Scholar Award
This award recognizes an outstanding research paper in theater written by an undergraduate student.

This year's recipient is Zsuzska Beswick, Barnard College, for Joseph SuB Oppenheimer As An Eroticized Figure: Re-evaluating Veit Harlan's Jud SuB. The runner-up is Joseph Bushur, Miami University of Ohio, for Get Thee to a Carnival: The Improved Shakespeare Company and Contemporary Carnivalesque.

EDUCATION AT THE KENNEDY CENTER
As the national center for the performing arts, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is committed to increasing opportunities for all people to participate in and understand the arts. To fulfill that mission, the Kennedy Center strives to commission, create, design, produce, and/or present performances and programs of the highest standard of excellence and of a diversity that reflects the world in which we live-and to make those performances and programs accessible and inclusive.

Education at the Kennedy Center includes resources from its presentations and productions and those of its affiliates: the National Symphony Orchestra, VSA (the international arts and disability organization), and Washington National Opera. The focus, locally and nationally, is on producing and presenting age appropriate performances and educational events for young people and their families; school- and community-based programs that directly impact teachers, students, artists, and school and arts administrators through professional development; systemic and school improvement through arts integrated curricula, inclusive classrooms, and universal design in facilities and learning; creating partnerships around the issues of arts education and arts integrated education; creating and providing educational materials via print and the Internet; developing careers in the arts for young people and aspiring professionals; and strengthening the management of arts organizations.

The education programs of the Kennedy Center have become models for communities across the country and have unlocked the door to learning for millions of young people. This has been accomplished by fostering creativity, teaching discipline, improving self-esteem, and challenging students to think in new ways, as well as offering them experiences in the pure enjoyment and excitement of the performing arts. For more information, visit the Center's website at www.kennedy-center.org/education.

For more information about the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival,
visit www.kcactf.org. Visit facebook.com/kennedycenter for behind-the-scenes news, special offers, advance notice of events and other related Kennedy Center Facebook pages. Follow @kencen on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news, offers and more.

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