Idaho Theater Students Advance to National Theater Competition
Thursday, February 26
More than 60 University of Idaho Theatre Arts students participated in the Region 7 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Ellensburg, Washington, last week, earning numerous awards, including two students winning top honors and invited to participate in the national festival in Washington, D.C., April 13-18.
Participants directed and performed in dramatic, comedic and musical theater scenes and monologues, delivered presentations and showcased displays on costume design, scene design, sound design and stage management. Theater professionals from around the nation responded to the performances and projects of the regional participants. These professionals served as selection panelists, naming one regional awardee in performance (the Irene Ryan Award), scenery, costumes, lighting, sound and allied crafts from the region, as well as determining other awards.
Winners were:
• Kadin McGreevy of Moscow won top honors in directing, winning the Stage Directing and Choreographers (SDC) award for his scene from “Vigils,” which featured UI students Micheal Angelo Smith, Dan Poppen, Lo Miles and Kevin O’Connell.
• Courtney Smith of Ferndale, Washington took top honors in Scenic Design, winning the Design, Technology and Management award for his work on “The Cherry Orchard,” which was produced by UI Theatre Arts in 2014. The award was based on quality, effectiveness, originality, and visual presentation techniques
“It's quite an honor to represent the University of Idaho theater department,” Smith said. “Individual commitment to a group effort is what makes a team work, our department work and art work. That’s what theater is all about.”
• Sondra Williams of Seattle, Washington, was selected as a national semi-finalist. Her play, “Happy and Birthday,” will compete in the National Playwriting Program — John Cauble One Act, against 16 others, of which two will be selected to go to the national festival.
• Liz Karst of Idaho Falls received a Level 2 award in Costume Design in the Design Technology Management category for her creative costume designs in “A Tomato Plant Girl.”
• Gus Rose-Witt of Omak, Washington, received a Level 2 award in Sound Design in the Design Technology Management category for her work in “A Christmas Carol.”
• Michael Brandt of Council Bluffs, Iowa, received an Allied Arts award for his puppetry work “A Christmas Carol.”
• For their performances in the Irene Ryan competition, Alex Wendel of Charles City, Iowa, and Hunter Price of Boise received the New Plays New Voices Award and Micheal Angelo Smith of Denver took home the Mark Twain Comedy Acting Award.
For more information, contact Theatre Arts at 208-885-6465 or visit www.uidaho.edu/class/theatre.
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.