Imagine spending a week with thousands of other people who all share a passion for a similar art.
Now imagine having the opportunity to prepare something to show all those people your passion and skills in that art form. This is a gift granted to the St. Ambrose Theatre Department year after year in the form of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) for Region 5. It's one of the biggest events in which the St. Ambrose Theatre Department participates.
KCACTF hosts a wide variety of competitions, workshops, and collegiate productions. Some of the competitions include the Irene Ryan acting competition; the Student Directors and Choreography (SDC) competition; the Stage Crew Showdown; the Musical Theatre Intensive (MTI); and various design competitions. Many of these events result in scholarships for the winners. There are also professional auditions in which students can audition in front of theatre professionals who may offer them jobs, internships, or other opportunities.
The competition location changes every two years. The past two years, it was in Des Moines, and this year, the department is traveling all the way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the January 20-26, 2019 festival.
The Irene Ryan acting nominees competing this year are senior Sarah Goodall, juniors Colin Evers and T.J. Green, and sophomores Tyler Hughes and Ellie Larson. Each nominee will choose a partner who has not been nominated to compete with them.
One of those nominees, Sarah Goodall, is not only an Irene Ryan nominee but also is preparing a Musical Theatre Intensive audition. Goodall was nominated for the Irene Ryan competition last year for her role as Beatrice in A View from the Bridge. Irene Ryan nominees must pick two scenes and a monologue to perform. There are strict time limits, and all the pieces must contrast with each other. The musical theatre competition requires preparing one song that must be under three minutes. Though she hasn't made any final decisions yet, she has been searching diligently for the perfect scenes and a song.
Christian Colmenares, a fifth-year Theatre major, is also returning to KCACTF. He hopes to participate in the Musical Theatre Intensive this year with the song "Inútil" from the musical In the Heights in addition to trying professional auditions. He said the musical theatre competition is an opportunity to choose a song that is really fun or personal and that can exhibit energy and personal vocal ability.
"I chose this [Musical Theatre Intensive] again because it is a nice chance to show off my voice in front of professional theatre members and receive their advice on how I can improve," Colmenares said.
Students leave for KCACTF almost immediately after winter break, so they still have some time to choose and prepare their pieces. Within the next month, more and more students will be finalizing their decisions for pieces and workshops. The SAU Theatre Department staff and faculty will coach the students as they prepare. A showing of all the students' preparation will be December 13 in Allaert Auditorium, in which Theatre Department staff and faculty will watch and critique performances.
Last year, St. Ambrose students received first place in the stage management competition, first place in the Stage Crew Showdown, and third place in the Irene Ryan acting competition. Also, two student directors advanced to finals, two students went to finals in the Irene Ryan competition, and one earned a trip to Las Vegas for her painting as well as winning top honors in stage management and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
The hope is that St. Ambrose will see just as much success this year and will learn even more!
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