KCACTF is a network of more than 700 academic institutions throughout the country. Festivals showcase entered productions of eight U.S. regions and offer a wide range of activities, including workshops, symposia, and regional-level scholarship and award programs. The festival is sponsored by the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. whose goal is to promote inclusion and diversity, exploration of new ideas, and to showcase the best in student works in theaters across the country.
Humboldt State joined over 1,000 students, faculty, and professionals in the theater industry from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
Several HSU students were recognized at this year’s festival. Among them:
-- Jordan Goad won an internship for the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas (SILV). She will work backstage this summer on a variety of shows in Las Vegas.
-- Amy Beltran and Constance Hill won the SILV Don Childs Collaboration Award and the KCACTF National Award for Excellence in Allied Crafts for their makeup design work on Evil Dead the Musical. Their award comes with airfare, registration, and lodging at United States Institute for Theatre Technology held this year in Louisville, Kentucky.
-- Victor Parra and Isaiah Alexander were finalists in the Irene Ryan Acting Awards and Scholarships competition for their performances from HSU’s production of Charlotte’s Web. William English III and Madison Burgett-Feagin from Hayfever; Elizabeth Whittemore, Kiara Hudlin, and Zackary Tucker from Evil Dead the Musical; and Maude Jaeb from The Margaret Kelso Short Play Festival competed, as well.
-- William English III was a finalist in the Next Step Auditions, Musical Theatre Scholarship Competition.
HSU students’ two performances of the popular production, Evil Dead The Musical, were another highlight of the festival. Both shows sold out in 20 minutes and received standing ovations.