Bryan Howard, a senior English, Theatre Arts and Human Behavior (Interdisciplinary Studies) major in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film from Howell, New Jersey, won first place in the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas/Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (LMDA/KCACTF) Student Dramaturgy competition at the Region V festival in Minnesota in January.
His entry will be reviewed alongside the seven other regional winners from across the country by a panel of professional dramaturgs to compete for four spots in the national competition in Washington, D.C., in April. He will learn those results in mid-March.
“Right before they announced the winner of the LMDA/KCACTF Student Dramaturgy Award, my heart was beating so fast, I’m pretty sure everyone within a 25-foot radius could feel the vibration,” Howard said. “When I heard them announce me as the winner, I shot up out of my seat and practically ran onto the stage. It was a wonderful feeling and a great honor to have my work recognized.”
A dramaturg is a professional position within a theatre or opera company that deals with research and development of plays or operas and works on the historical and cultural research into the play or opera and its setting.
To enter the competition, Howard was required to submit a digital protocol, not to exceed 100 pages, along with a physical one and a display board highlighting his work as dramaturg. Howard submitted 96 pages that detailed the research and work he did for UNL’s production of “Love’s Labor’s Lost” last semester, directed by guest director Melora Kordos.
“My final protocol included a statement on the breadth and challenges of the project, as well as one on my entire process, a faculty letter of nomination, a letter of support from the director, and detailed information and examples of the work I did for each step of the process,” Howard said.
Twenty-eight Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film students attended the KCACTF Region V Festival, which ran Jan. 18-24 at Normandale Community College in Minnesota. They attended workshops, productions and events and received a backstage tour of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
Other results from the Festival included:
• Desiree Bartels, a sophomore theatre major from Tobias, Nebraska, won second place in the Theatre Management Intensive.
• Thomas Boyle, a senior theatre major from Omaha, Nebraska, and his partner Kayla Klammer, a senior theatre and dance major from Ainsworth, Nebraska, advanced to the semi-final round of the Irene Ryan Acting Competition.
• Joe Shea, a senior theatre major from Blair, Nebraska, was awarded a certificate for his sound design for “Really Really.”
• Katie Davis, a senior theatre major from Tuttle, Oklahoma, was awarded a certificate for her costume design for “Love’s Labor’s Lost.”
• Kirstie Smith, a senior theatre major from Potter, Nebraska, and Boyle performed the final scene from “Really Really” as one of only six invited scenes.
• Michael Barth, a freshman theatre major from Gordon, Nebraska, auditioned, was cast and performed in a 10-Minute Play Festival.
• Jessie Mhire, a senior theatre major from Mount Vernon, Iowa, stage managed two of the plays in the 10-Minute Play Festival.