PARTICIPANTS IN THE 2006 THEATRE FESTIVAL

The four colleges and universities with productions appearing at the National Festival— Middlebury College, University of Idaho, Kansas State University and the University of Evansville—will be awarded TCG University Affiliate status for a period of one year.

This year, the National Selection Team chose four productions to receive all-expenses paid trips to the Kennedy Center to be showcased at the National Festival. They are"

The Bewitched by Peter Barnes, Middlebury College.

Premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974, The Bewitched, presents a satirical view of the contemporary notions of blind obedience within the context of sixteenth century Spain, during the reign of Carlos the Second, the last of the Spanish Hapsburgs, and himself a tragic figure plagued with multiple physical and mental maladies. The production will feature a cast of thirty actors playing over fifty roles.

Boy Gets Girl by Rebecca Gilman, University of Idaho.

Theresa Bedell is a successful reporter in New York who loves her work and the life she has made for herself. A relationship with a man would complete the picture and so she agrees to a blind date with a friend of a friend. Tony is attractive and funny, but Theresa isn’t sure, and after a second date she sees no point in continuing the relationship. Tony, thinks otherwise. What at first seems like persistence grows into obsession, and Theresa’s annoyance with Tony turns to terror as he begins to threaten her and those around her. Ultimately, Theresa must fight to save herself from being erased by Tony’s actions – actions that call into question the assumptions at the very heart of romantic pursuit.

The Last Black Play by Nathan Louis Jackson, Ebony Theatre Company of Kansas State University.

To save his theater and the image of black entertainers everywhere, Isaiah Cantrell writes a play so filled with race that it would be "the last black play." With help from his two friends, his borderline racist agent, his basketball phenom cousin, and an unexpected love interest, Isaiah’s play has an effect on the city. But is it the effect he wants?

Anatomy of Gray by Jim Leonard, University of Evansville.

Jim Leonard gives us a poignant story based on such universal themes as loss and love, grief and hope, and desire and longing. His writing sets the stage in a small Indiana town and centers around a young woman’s heartbreak over her father’s death and the ripple effects of her answered prayers for a "healer" to come into town.

Students participating in the regional and national festivals are eligible for awards for outstanding acting, stage design, playwriting, directing and dramatic criticism.

The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education and professional development opportunities.

Each of the 16 finalists receive a $500 scholarship; a week-long, all-expenses paid trip to the National Festival in Washington, D.C.; and casting in the Short Play Festival presentations.

The fellowships and awards the finalists are considered for are:

Sundance Theatre Lab, Sundance, Utah
Society of American Fight Directors National Workshop, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dell’Arte Mad River Festival Internship, Blue Lake, California.
Williamstown Theater Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Margolis Method Summer Intensive Acting Fellowship, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mark Twain Comedy Acting Award, First prize—$2500; Second prize—$2000
Classical Acting Award—Tuition, room, board and travel to the LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) eight-week Shakespeare and His Contemporaries summer course.
The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, DC—A full-season acting fellowship.
The VASTA Award for Vocal Excellence- $500, sponsored by the Voice and Speech Trainers Association.
The O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference Acting Internship.

THIS YEAR'S SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS ARE:

Stephani Aguilar, Montclair State University.
Chad Bradford, University of Central Arkansas.
Ben Elledge, University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Michael Harkins, University of New Orleans.
Laura C. Harris, Middlebury College.
Ben Hope, University of Central Florida.
Rory Lipede, Fontbonne University.
Stephanie Lovell, University of Wyoming.
Allan Mayo, Salem State College.
David Murgittroyd, Montclair State University.
Matt Renskers, Ball State University.
Ryan Nearhoff, California State University, Fullerton.
Brandon Petrie, California State University, Fresno.
Jeff Snodgrass, Western Washington University.
Michael Swickard, University of Central Florida.
Nick Vienna, Western Illinois University.

THR MICHAEL KANIN PLAYWRITING AWARDS PROGRAM encourages and supports the development of student-written plays through the following awards. Excerpts of the winning plays will be presented by local Washington, DC actors during the festival, including John Astin, Jennifer Mendenhall, Michael Russotto, Aubrey Deeker and Susan Lynskey

THE NATIONAL STUDENT PLAYWRITING AWARD honors excellence in student playwriting. This year’s winner is Angela Gant of Texas Tech University for Social Darwinism. Gant will receive a number of other honors, including: a cash award of $2500; the Dramatists Guild will provide membership in the Guild; Samuel French, Inc. may offer the playwright a contract for publication of the play. KCACTF will provide an all-expenses paid fellowship to the Sundance Theatre Lab in Sundance, Utah where the playwright will be mentored by directors, playwrights and dramaturgs; and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) will provide a cash award to the theater department of the school producing the national winning script to be awarded in a public ceremony during the KCACTF National Festival.

THE LORRAINE HANSBERRY PLAYWRITING AWARD is presented in memory of the distinguished dramatist to the best KCACTF student-written plays on the subject of the African American experience. The first place award carries a cash prize; an internship to the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut and/or a fellowship to attend the Summer Playwriting Intensive at the Kennedy Center. The Dramatic Publishing Company may present the first-place winning playwright with an offer of a contract to publish, license and market the winning play. In recognition for supporting new writing, grants of $625 will be awarded to DePaul University and Kansas State University.

Co-winners of this year’s award are Isaac Charles Holter of DePaul University for One Fell Swoop and Nathan Louis Jackson of the Ebony Theatre Company of Kansas State University for The Last Black Play. Each will receive a cash award of $1750.

THE JEAN KENNEDY SMITH PLAYWRITING AWARD supported by VSA arts, is presented to the student-written play that best explores the human experience of living with a disability. The recipient will receive a cash award of $2500; active membership in the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. and a fellowship to attend a prestigious playwriting program, which will include transportation, housing and per diem. Co-winners of this year’s award are David Roby of Illinois State University for Arts and Science and Terry Davis of the University of New Mexico for The Family Frost. Both will receive a cash award of $1250.

The David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award is presented in an effort to promote the writing and production of new plays while honoring and perpetuating the memory of David Mark Cohen, Professor of Playwriting, University of Texas at Austin. The winning playwright will receive a $1000 cash award from the Kennedy Center, an offer of publication by Dramatic Publishing Company and up to $500 to defer travel and expenses to attend a script-in-hand reading at the annual August meeting of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. The recipient of this year’s award is the distinguished playwright Romulus Linney, for his adaptation of the classic Vietnam novel Going After Cacciato, premiered by Texas State University, San Marcos. Second place went to Elyne Quan of New York University for Souvenirs of Home. The recipient of the third place went to Chuck Erven of Fresno City College for Canyon Suite.

The Mark Twain Comedy Playwriting Award is offered to the best student-written, full-length comedy play. The first place award carries a $2500 cash prize and the Dramatic Publishing Company may present an offer of a contract to publish, license and market the winning play. A second place award of $1500 will also be given in addition to grants of $750 and $500 to the producing organizations of each winner, respectively. The recipient of this year’s award is Nathan Louis Jackson’s play The Last Black Play from the Ebony Theatre Company of Kansas State University. Second place went to Jessica Lind of the University of Minnesota – Duluth for her play String.

The Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting, sponsored by the Laura Pels International Foundation, recognizes the best student-written play that celebrates diversity and encourages tolerance. The winning playwright will receive $2500 and a scholarship to a playwriting residency program. This year’s recipient is Angela Gant of Texas Tech University for Social Darwinism.

The KCACTF Award for Latino Playwriting recipient is Marco Ramirez from New York University for Things Behind the Moon. Ramirez will receive a cash award of $2500 and a residency with the O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference.

The KCACTF Theater for Youth Award goes to Lou Clark from the University of New Mexico for I Sea. Ms. Clark will receive a cash award of $1000 and a fellowship offer to attend the Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New Voices Festival.

The Barbizon Awards are for excellence in scenic, costume and light design.

Designs of the regional finalists will be on display during the national festival and the national design respondents will select the winners in each category. All national winners will receive an honorarium of $500 and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City for the National Design Portfolio Review at Lincoln Center and a two-week summer residency at the Kennedy Center to study with Ming Cho Lee, Beverly Emmons and Constance Hoffman. In addition, regional finalists will be eligible for fellowships to the O’Neill Theatre Center’s National Playwrights Conference and the Shakespeare Theatre Costume Internship. The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) will publish information on the national design winners in Theatre Design and Technology.

This year’s nominees for Scenic Design are:

Angela Bengford, University of Idaho
Caress Bergado, Utah State University
Travis Eason, Abilene Christian University
Andrew Farrugia, University of Florida
Christina Galvez, Middlebury College
Jung Lim Hon, CW Post, Long Island University
Robbie Jones, University of Kansas
Janine L. Woods, University of Michigan

This year’s nominees for Costume Design are:

Allison Dawe, Western Washington University
Amanda Fehlner, University of South Dakota
Izumi Inaba, University of Buffalo
Noppadol Inchan, Illinois State University
Angela Markman, Emerson College
Kate Palame, Southern Methodist University
Macy Perrone, Utah State University
Ray Teague, Kennesaw State University

This year’s nominees for Lighting Design are:

Terra Armstrong, Linfield College
Christopher Creevy, Suffolk Community College
Laura Eckelman, Middlebury College
Anthony Galaska, Purdue University
Shawn Irish, University of Arkansas
Will Lowry, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Cassie Vorbach, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Cliff Wallgren, Weber State University

The winner of the Dramaturgy Award will attend the O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference in Waterford, Connecticut as the literary associate and assistant dramaturge.

This year’s nominees for Student Dramaturgy are:

James Dolph, University of Oklahoma
Paul Doyle, Middlebury College
Elisabeth Ellsworth, Brigham Young University
Emily Fargo, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Jana Goold, University of Evansville
Mary Jo Henning, Western Washington University
Alyssa Herzog, University of Minnesota, Morris
Allison Kellar, Clemson University

The winner of the Sound Design award wins a residency at the O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference in Waterford, Connecticut as the resident sound assistant.

This year’s nominees for Sound Design are:

Anna Caramanna, Scottsdale Community College
Kevin Fuller, Amarillo College
David Hunter, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Ben Inniger, Bethany Lutheran College
Jason Knox, Purdue University
Sarah Peterson, Central Washington University
Mike Skinner, Southern Connecticut State University
Davie Soesilo, Eastern Mennonite University

The Mehron Makeup Awards give outstanding student designers national recognition and the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Kennedy Center.

Ronnie Chamberlain, University of Alabama
Michelle Cruikshank, Slippery Rock University
Emily Friedrick, University of Idaho
Kate Goetschius, University of Southern Maine
Kristina Makawsko, University of Evansville
Debra Reed, University of Central Oklahoma
Tracy Sharp, Grand View College
Kay L. Townsend, Utah State University

The O'Neill National Critics Institute Scholarship. One national winner will receive a full fellowship to attend the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut during its national playwriting conference in July 2006, working with leading professional newspaper and magazine critics from across the United States. In addition, up to three regional Critics Institute finalists will become eligible for a $1000 matching grant from the Critics Institute to attend the summer institute program. It is expected that the sponsoring school meet the match.

This year’s Critics Institute finalists are:

Nathan Dame, Weber State University
Paul Doyle, Middlebury College
Lisa Ferguson, University of North Texas
William Francher, Middle Tennessee State University
Nate Harpel, Western Washington University
Justin B. Hopkins, Franklin & Marshall College
Patrick Midgley, College of Wooster
Sharla Nolte, Rockhurst University

The Dell'Arte/keactf Diversity Scholarship awards a full scholarship to the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre’s professional actor training program to one actor who fulfills Dell’Arte’s goal of creating a more diverse student body. This year’s recipient is Freddy Izaguirre of Columbia Basin College.

The KCACTF National Committee has recognized the following faculty members for outstanding achievement as teaching artists. Each will attend the KCACTF National Festival in April to mentor student award-recipients and participate in the master classes.

Hallie Zieselman, designer, Middlebury College
Tony Tassa, director, Palm Beach Community College
Nina LeNoir, critic, Minnesota State University, Mankato
James C. Christian, director, Weber State University
Becky Prophet, director, Alfred University
Eric Prince, playwright, Colorado State University
Karen Sheridan, acting, Oakland University
Dell McLain, director, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Master classes are held for the award-winners and finalists in the categories of lighting, costume and scenic design, acting, directing, playwriting, dramatic criticism and specialty make-up. These students get the opportunity to study with some of the best artists in their field. Many of the noted artists who will be leading the master classes and workshops at the 2005 KCACTF National Festival are:

Philippe Amand: 2005 Gold Medal Winner for Lighting Design, World Stage Design Expo.
Jorge Ballina: Gold Medal Winner for Scenic Design, World Stage Design Expo
Mark Bly, Playwriting and Dramaturgy, former Head of Playwriting at Yale University, Senior Dramaturg at Arena Stage
Polly Carl, Playwriting, Director of the Playwrights’ Center
Amanda Charlton, Directing, Williamstown Theatre Festival
Martin DesJardins, Sound Design, The Shakespeare Theatre
Ronlin Foreman, Clown, Dell’Arte Players Company and International School of Physical Theatre
Erik Fredricksen, Stage Combat, Founding member of the Society of American Fight Directors
Trey Graham, Dramatic Criticism, Washington City Paper, George Jean Nathan Award-winner
Robert Kaplowitz, Sound Design, Playwrights Horizons
Michael Kahn, Performance, The Shakespeare Theatre Company
Romulus Linney, Playwright The Sorrows of Frederick, Two, Holy Ghosts
Gavin Witt, Dramaturgy, Center Stage
Kari Margolis, Margolis Brown Theatre Company
Peter Marks, Dramatic Criticism, Washington Post
Randy Mercer, Make-Up Design, Hairspray, The Producers, Spider Man II.
GW Mercier, Scenic and Costume Design, Ford’s Theatre’s A Christmas Carol.
Bob Mondello, Dramatic Criticism, NPR and Washington City Paper
Ellen O’Brien, Voice, The Shakespeare Theatre and Juilliard
Daniel J. Sullivan, Dramatic Criticism, Director of the O’Neill National Critics Institute
Timberlake Wertenbaker, Playwright Our Country’s Good, After Darwin, Three Birds Alighting on a Field.
David White, Playwriting, Literary Manager, the O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference

This year’s KCACTF Short Play festival includes the national finalists of the John Cauble Award for Best Short Play and the National Finalists of the KCACTF Ten-Minute Play Award.

This year’s National Finalists of the John Cauble Award for Best Short Play are:

Fun-Sized by Benjamin Clawson, Montclair State University
Lions by Neil Knox, Sarah Lawrence College
Quentin G by Joshua Mikel, Florida State University
Secrets and Other Indulgences by Rebecca Orchant, University of New Mexico
The Man of Infinite Sadness by Brian Tanen, New York University
The John Cauble Short Play Awards Program recognizes one or more outstanding productions of such plays in colleges and universities each year, with consideration for presentation at the national festival at the Kennedy Center. The awards to each playwright whose work is presented at the national festival include $1000 provided by the Playwriting Awards Development Committee, publication and catalog listing by Samuel French, Inc. and appropriate membership in the Dramatist Guild, Inc.

This year’s National Finalists of the KCACTF Ten-Minute Play Award are:

Nu Shu by Tom Diggs, New York University
By Design by David Eames Harlan, University of Idaho
Pissing Contest by Leah Maxwell, Playwrights’ Theatre of Boston University
The Fisherman by Jayme McGhan, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
The regional festivals typically receive 120 Ten-Minute Play submissions and up to 10 of those are work-shopped and presented at each regional festival. The selected short plays are cast with regional Irene Ryan finalists and presented at the National Festival. Each play will have a student director. Four mentor/faculty directors-in-residence will be present to assist and advise. One ten-minute playwright will receive a cash award of $1000 for outstanding achievement. Another ten-minute play and the playwright will be invited to Atlanta as part of the Dad’s Garage Theatre Company’s 8 ½ X 11: Atlanta’s Most Dangerous Short Play Festival on full fellowship.

This year’s student directors are:

Stephanie Buck, Central Michigan University
Candace Feldman, Kansas State University
Tiffany Ford, University of Central Florida
Matt Johnston, CW Post, Long Island University
Paul Kalina, University of Idaho
Liz Lacy, Sam Houston State University
Anthony Nunziata, Boston College
Patrick Pearson, California State University, Fullerton

In addition to their work with the Ten-Minute Play Festival, each student director will be considered for a new National Student Director Award sponsored by the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC). This award includes a $1000 travel and lodging grant from SSDC and a full tuition waiver to attend the KCACTF Summer Intensive on Director/Designer Collaboration led by Ming Cho Lee and Constance Hoffman.

The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC) is a national independent labor union representing members throughout the United States and abroad. SSDC has jurisdiction over the employment of Directors and Choreographers working in the following areas: Broadway and National tours, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, Resident Theatre, Resident summer stock companies, Summer stock and civic light opera, Dinner Theatre, Regional Music Theatre, Outdoor musical stock and Non-Equity tours.

This year’s National Student Stage Management Fellowship recipients are:

Colin Miller, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, stage managing for the Short Play Festival
Sarah Kelley, MiraCosta College, stage managing for the Lighting Project