Twenty-three students representing Gonzaga University’s Department of Theatre and Dance participated in the Region 7 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Denver, Colorado, February 20-24. The department’s fall 2016 production, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, was one of only three productions selected from the region to perform at the festival, making this the first time in school history a production has traveled to KCACTF.
Joining colleges and universities from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Northern California and Nevada, GU students competed for scholarships and awards in performance, playwriting, and design. They also participated in a diverse array of workshops and learned new methods and techniques in theatre.
Theatre professionals from around the nation responded to the performances and projects of the regional participants. These professionals served as selection panelists, presenting the Irene Ryan Award to one regional awardee in performance, as well as awards in scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, allied crafts, and other awards.
The Department of Theatre & Dance is pleased and proud to announce the following:
· Irene Ryan Scholarship Finalist: Elizabeth Spindler with partner Dan Martin
· Irene Ryan Scholarship Semi-finalist: Talena Kelln with partner Jackie Bertagnolli
· Musical Theatre Scholarship Audition Finalist: Annika Perez-Krikorian
· National Playwriting Program Semi-finalist: For his play A La Roro, Art Por Diaz has been selected from the KCACTF regional conference winners to compete at the national conference with an all-expenses paid trip/conference registration to Washington, D.C. At KCACTF national in April, Art will be eligible to receive prizes and scholarships.
In addition, several students were offered audition call-backs, internships and employment with a variety of arts organizations.
· Next Step/Irene Ryan Audition callbacks: Saeed Al-Thumali (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); Art Por Diaz (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); Annika Perez-Krikorian (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville); Jackie Bertagnolli (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Stella Adler Training Company, Missoula Children’s Theatre); Elizabeth Spindler (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Stella Adler Training Company, Montana Children’s Theatre); Jaron Fuglie (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company)
· Next Step Design/Tech Interviews: Emily Davidson (summer internship offer from Lake Dillon Theatre Company); Clint Bull (summer job offer from Montana Repertory Theatre); Matthieu Boss (development internship offer from Lake Dillon Theatre Company); Nathan Patrick Nelson (education apprentice ship offer from Lake Dillon Theatre Company)