Utah students shine at KCACTF Regional Festival

OGDEN — Last week, Weber State University hosted the 44th annual Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region VIII conference. KCACTF is the nation’s foremost theatre festival for college and university productions. Lasting from February 7 through 11, 2012, this year’s conference drew students, faculty, and artists from Utah, Arizona, central and southern California, southern Nevada, and Hawaii. Students from across the region attended workshops and productions, presented examples of their work, and competed for awards.

At KCACTF, students from universities in Utah excelled in competition. Below is a list of award winners from Utah universities. We commend these students for their fine work. For those students who will compete at the national level in Washington, D.C., we wish them the best of luck.

• • At the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition, Becca Ingram of Brigham Young University, and her scene partner Ted Bushman, were invited to compete at the national level. BYU student Jen Stewart was named Best Scene Partner. Benny Isaacs of Brigham Young University was awarded the National Partners of the American Theatre’s Classical Acting Award.
  • In the category of Dramaturgy, Wendy Gourley of Utah Valley University will represent Region VIII in Washington, D.C. Wendy was recognized for her work on Eurydice.
  • Brigham Young University’s Jenny Huffman received the regional dramaturgy award for her work on Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
  • In Stage Management, Jacob Porter of Utah Valley University received the Regional Recognition award for his work on Othello.
  • The winner of the KCACTF Award for Excellence in Costume Design was Shelby Luke for her work on Brigham Young University’s Peter Pan.
    • Andrea Burzy received a Regional Recognition award for her costume designs for Utah State University’s Step on a Crack.
    • Allen Stout and Jennessa Law received an honorable mention for their costume designs for Utah Valley University’s Elephant’s Graveyard.
  • Milinda Weeks of Utah State University was awarded a Regional Recognition award in Lighting Design for her work on Utah State University’s Our Country’s Good.
    • Utah Valley University’s Jaron Hermansen received an honorable mention for his Eurydice designs.
  • The KCACTF Award for Excellence in Scenic Design was awarded to Mauri Smith of Utah State University for her work on Step on a Crack.
    • The Regional Recognition award in scene design went to Utah Valley University’s Casey Price for Eurydice.
    • Utah State University’s Andrea Burzy received an honorable mention for her set design for The Three Musketeers.
    • Carter Thompson was also given an honorable mention for his set design for Brigham Young University’s The Elephant Man.
  • The Regional Recognition award in Sound Design was given to Jason Jensen of Utah Valley University for his work on Othello.
    • Kami Christiansen received a special recognition for her sound design of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Southern Utah University.
  • In the category of Allied Design and Technologies, Molly Pack of Utah State University won an award for her makeup for Step on a Crack.
    • Caroline Kennedy won for her draper work on Twentieth Century at Utah State University.
    • Mallory Mackay’s makeup, hair, and mask designs for The Elephant Man at Brigham Young University were also recognized.
    • Daniel Whiting’s technical direction of Eurydice at Utah Valley University received an honorable mention.
    • Another honorable mention was given to Josh Wilson for technical direction of Utah State University’s Proof.

Three universities in the state were also invited to present their productions for KCACTF audiences: Brigham Young University (The Elephant Man and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey), Utah Valley University (Eurydice), and Weber State University (Xanadu).

We congratulate these all winners of KCACTF awards for Region VIII. UTBA is pleased that others recognize the excellence in Utah theatre that our universities produce. We encourage Utah patrons to attend productions at all universities and college in Utah. Some of the best work in the performing arts is occurring on the campuses of our universities.