Prepping for KCACTF 2022

Every year around the holiday season, the St. Ambrose University Theatre Department becomes preoccupied with multiple different activities. Besides finals week creeping up, events such as the one-act plays and Studio Theatre auditions take place. To add to this list, preparations for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) also kick into full gear.

KCACTF is a regional theatre festival that provides college students opportunities to learn about different aspects of theatre as well as learning experiences to help them in the professional theatre scene after graduation. St. Ambrose University, and the state of Iowa in general, fall into KCACTF Region V along with Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Typically, the festival takes place in person, but because of COVID-19 the Festival will take place virtually for the second year in a row. While this is not as exciting or hands-on as an in-person festival would be, the online format makes the Festival much more accessible to all students cost-wise and schedule-wise. It also makes the entire process a lot less stressful for all participants alike.

"The virtual format is less stressful for me because I don't have to miss any classes for the Festival, and I can record my audition videos as many times as I want," admitted Junior Quinnie Rodman. "While I am disappointed that the Festival is being held virtually for the second year in a row, I am still excited to participate!"

At KCACTF, the Musical Theatre Intensive, Professional Auditions, and the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions have all proven to be the most popular events for St. Ambrose students. This year's Irene Ryan Nominees include Senior Kyle Defauw and Junior Amber Cook from the SAU production of Two Rooms; Senior Joseph Lasher and Junior Peyton Reese from Admissions; Senior Nikki DeWitt, Senior Rebecca Meissen, and Junior David Weaver from Romeo and Juliet; and Senior K. Hampton and Senior Nyssa Wagner from She Kills Monsters.

However, any student who was involved in any of these listed productions can choose to self nominate themselves for this scholarship audition. Junior Peyton Reese, who has made Musical Theatre Intensive finals twice and Irene Ryan finals once before, is ready for another successful and busy festival herself. This year she will be participating in The Musical Theatre Intensive, The Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Audition, and professional auditions.

"I am so incredibly excited to participate in my third KCACTF Festival!" Reese exclaimed. "While it is a lot of work to pick acting pieces, memorize everything, and record your auditions, the payoff is definitely worth it."

This year's KCACTF Festival will take place online the week of January 16-22, 2022. You can visit KCACTF5.org for more information about the festival and the different audition processes. The theatre department is extremely excited to showcase the hard work, dedication, and talent of all of their students. Best of luck to all those participating!