WCU DepT. of Theatre & Dance Plays Host and Shines at Regional Festival
West Chester University’s (WCU) Department of Theatre and Dance was the host to theatre students and faculty from colleges and universities in six Mid-Atlantic states for the Region II Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF).
Celebrating its 55th year, the festival offered workshops, panel discussions, competitions, and performances. WCU President Christopher Fiorentino spoke at the Gold Medallion Dinner, an event held to recognize the accomplishments of faculty throughout the region and contributions of the host school.
West Chester University has been an active and successful part of the Kennedy Center Festival for many years. In addition to hosting this year’s festival, they hosted the festival live in 2016 and virtually in 2022. WCU productions are regularly chosen by a committee to be presented for festival attendees. This year, WCU’s Spring Awakening was presented for festival attendees.
West Chester University students also submitted work for national awards consideration
in acting, allied crafts and stage management. The following WCU student award recipients
received recognition and will be invited to attend the KCACTF National Festival, held
at the Kennedy Center the week of April 17, 2023:
- Clare McKernan ‘22, John Cauble Regional Finalist (Boys in Belfast, playwright) and One-Act Playwright Award (one of 4 awarded at regional level)
- Victoria Naftal ‘25, The Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology Award, Regional First Place, Puppet design, Into the Woods
The following WCU student award recipients received recognition at the regional level:
- Giulia Pagano ‘25, The Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology, Regional 2ndPlace, Props, Into the Woods
- Paige Stone ‘23, The Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology, Regional Honorable Mention, Props, Spring Awakening
- Jason Spiegelman ‘23, Regional Second Place, Tech Olympics
- Victoria Naftal ‘25, Guilia Pagano ‘25 and Madelyn Ebersole ‘23, Don Childs DTM Cross-Discipline Collaboration Award, Into the Woods
- Nyred Jackson ‘23, Regional Honorable Mention, Scenic Design
- Audrey Otto ‘25, Regional Honorable Mention, Stage Management
- David Gold '25: Ensemble performer, National Playw riting Program and Outstanding Performance at the Monologue Slam
- Paige Stone ‘23, Recognition for creating first Tech Olympics post pandemic with future awards created in her honor
The Department of Theatre and Dance at West Chester University, an accredited institution of the National Association of Schools of Theatre, prepares students for the professional and the academic worlds of Theatre and Dance, while raising student awareness of civility, diversity, creativity, problem solving and social responsibility. The department offers a BA Theatre degree program with elective concentrations in Musical Theatre, Performance, and Design and Production, in addition to a dance minor and theatre minor.