USD Students and Faculty Earn Honors at Regional Theatre Festival
At the competition in late January, USD competed with students from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota for awards and the opportunity to advance to the national festival held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Besides showcasing their talent, USD theatre students took advantage of many opportunities including workshops, auditions for theatre companies, and viewing productions from universities throughout the Midwest.
Raimondo Genna, chair of the Department of Theatre, said the annual conference is a wonderful experience for faculty and students to witness firsthand the amazing regional talent found in the Midwest.
“USD Theatre had a very busy week where our creative scholarship was recognized and celebrated throughout the festival,” he said. “Our students demonstrated both their exceptional talent, as well as their first-class training. I could not be prouder of our students and faculty members who made all of our achievements possible.”
USD’s 2017 productions earned a number of commendations: Green Violin received awards for professor Chaya Gordon-Bland (direction), professor Victor Shock (scenic design), professor Jonathan Allender-Zivic (lighting design), MFA design and technology student Abby Meyer (costume design), the entire cast (ensemble work), and USD history professor Steve Miller and his Honors history class (dramaturgy). MFA design and technology student Spencer Walker received an achievement in scenic design commendation for his work on Mud; BFA design and technology major Kiah Schaeffer received an achievement in costume design commendation for her work on Rhinoceros; and the entire costume shop received an achievement in costume construction commendation for their work on Little Women.
BFA musical theatre major Josie Kasik won the Musical Theatre Intensive Scholarship and will be attending the Open Jar Institute’s Broadway Acting Intensive. Thousands of students from around the world audition to participate but only sixty are selected to go to New York City and receive a week of intensive one-on-one training with Broadway’s celebrated theatre professionals. BFA musical theatre major Isaac Otterman was awarded the Region 5 Planet Earth Play Selection Award for his "The Volcano Play." This award goes to the best play that focuses on climate change and the environment demanding urgent action. MFA Design and Technology student Abby Meyer won the Association for Theatre in Higher Education/KCACTF award for Innovative Studies.
Over three hundred students took part in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. BFA musical theatre major Alex Newcomb-Weiland and her partner, BFA acting major Alexondrea Thong Vanh advanced to the semi-finals. MFA directing student Megan Weidner progressed to the final round in the Stage Directors and Choreographers Directing Initiative.
BFA musical theatre majors Alyssa Collett, Josie Kasik, Alex Newcomb-Weiland, and Lauren Stacks were selected to perform in the Musical Theatre Intensive song cabaret; Tabitha Bass and Becca Schuster were selected to perform in the Musical Theatre Intensive dance cabaret; and BFA acting major Drake Zuschlag and BFA musical theatre major Matthew Vidal were cast in the 10-minute play festival.
USD’s Theatre faculty had a busy week as well. Professor Patricia Downey served as the Professional Auditions Coordinator; professor Scott Mollman served as the Workshop Associate Coordinator; professor Caitlin Quinn served as the Costume Parade Associate Coordinator; professor Victor Shonk served as the Professional Auditions Associate Coordinator; professor Joe Stollenwerk offered the workshops “Start Writing Plays” and “15 Films All Theatre Folks Should Know”; and adjunct instructor Rebecca Bailey offered the workshop “How to Conquer a Shakespeare Audition.”
KCACTF is a national body whose goals are to encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs; to provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight; to improve the quality of college and university theatre in America; and to encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived; and experimental works.