Trinity Theatre Students Travel to KCACTF

In January, a large group of Trinity students, faculty, and staff traveled to Michigan to participate in the annual Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region Three. This festival and conference series, known widely as KCACTF, was established in 1960 to highlight the excellent work of university theater programs nationwide through awards, presentations, workshops, competitions, and performances.

This year, 17 Trinity students competed, a record for the College theatre program. They were as follows:

• Justine Andre-Jackson (presented her lighting co-design for The Crucible as part of the Design Technology and Management Competition)
• Nyla Bellamy (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition)
• Cristian Contreras (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition)
• Liza Gavalova (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition, auditioned for Next Steps)
• Sam Hoffman (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition)
• MJ Huizenga (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition, auditioned for Next Steps)
• Carlie Jenkins (wrote journalistically for the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy)
• Adriana Klein (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition, wrote journalistically for the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy, auditioned for Next Steps)
• Taylor Moes (participated in the Stage Management Intensive)
• Mikey Moore (presented his costume design for Delirium’s Daughters as part of the Design Technology and Management Competition)
• Mia Musick (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition and acted in the NPP One-Act Play Festival)
• Jared Peters (presented his lighting co-design for The Crucible as part of the Design Technology and Management Competition)
• Steven Polcyn (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition)
• Luke Rotman (competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition)
• Bianca Sotelo (presented her unrealized scenic design as part of the Design Technology and Management Competition)
• Anika Wicker (presented her stage management prompt book for The Crucible as part of the Stage Management Fellowship, participated in the Stage Management Intensive)
• Ashley Yonkman (presented her costume co-design for The Crucible as part of the Design Technology and Management Competition)

Out of this group, the following accolades were received:

• Nyla Bellamy: Semi-Finalist for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition (Top 40 Collegiate Actor in the Midwest)
• Liza Gavalova: Offered a position in the Gaiety School of Acting Summer Program at the National Theatre School of Ireland
• Adriana Kelin: Offered a position in the Gaiety School of Acting Summer Program at the National Theatre School of Ireland
• Mia Musick: Semi-Finalist for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition (Top 40 Collegiate Actor in the Midwest)

At the festival, certificates of merit are awarded for work done on productions in the region throughout the year. A Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival representative presented feedback for each mainstage show. This year, the following individuals received Certificates of Merit:

• Justine Andre-Jackson, Excellence in Lighting Design for The Crucible
• Katie Oomkes, Excellence in Scenic Design for The Crucible
• Jared Peters, Excellence in Lightning Design for The Crucible
• Ethan Santema, Excellence in Sound Design for The Crucible
• “The Cast,” Excellence in Ensemble Acting for The Crucible (this cast included 21 actors).

Katie Oomkes ’18 and Emma Schneider ’19 accompanied the students again this year. Schneider has recently joined the KCACTF leadership team as the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy Coordinator.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Trinity Theatre performance Passengers and Navigators on March 16^th and 17^th. To learn more about upcoming performances, visit the theatre box office at Trinity.