The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film will be hosting the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Jan. 19-25, 2014, in Lincoln. It’s the second year in a row they have hosted the annual festival.
Last year, more than 1,500 students and faculty from more than 70 colleges and universities from around the region attended. Region V covers North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Iowa.
The KCACTF is a gathering of students and faculty from universities who are interested in theatre to share ideas and view one another’s work. In addition to performances and competitions, there is a wide range of activities that include workshops and seminars on topics such as playwriting, auditioning, set design and more. More than 18,000 students participate nationwide, including eight regional festivals and a network of more than 600 academic institutions.
“It’s important for our students to see the work of their peers at institutions that surround us and to meet and interact with other people who are pursuing the same thing they are pursuing,” said Paul Steger, director of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film.
One of the events at the festival is the Irene Ryan Scholarship auditions for actors. There typically are around 400 nominees, which eventually get whittled down to 16 finalists by the end of the week. Two from each region then get invited to the Kennedy Center in April for the national festival.
Likewise, costume, scenic, lighting, props, directing, dramaturgy, playwriting and stage management all have events.
“Really every concentration has national opportunities that arise from being promoted from the regional festival,” said Brad Buffum, production manager for the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and festival coordinator.
Five full productions from the region will be performed during the festival. University Theatre's production, "Silence," directed by graduate student Dennis Henry, was among those invited to be performed during the festival.
“The invited productions are responded to by nationally recognized theatre professionals, who can give the students honest, unbiased feedback,” Buffum said. “It’s also an opportunity for the students in our region to see the work of their peers.”
Other activities include a Design, Technology and Management Expo, which will take place in the Lied Commons.
Lincoln provides nearly an ideal location for the festival.
“The host hotel is across the street from all the venues. Across the street the other way is downtown,” Buffum said. “We have five theatres we are using within a block.”
The festival showcases the very best of theatre in the region.
“I’ve seen some amazing theatre, just absolutely astounding work by students,” Buffum said. “It’s pretty easy to get re-inspired by seeing what college students can do.”
Attendance at all events is by registration to the conference only. For more information, visit: http://go.unl.edu/lincolnkcactf.