WCU Theatre Students Take Awards at Kennedy Center American College Region 2 Theatre Festival
Students in West Chester University’s Department of Theatre and Dance displayed talent and skill and won awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF, Region 2) from January 24 - 27, 2024, in Downtown Pittsburgh.
KCACTF Region 2 attracts theatre students and faculty from colleges and universities in six Mid-Atlantic states for four days of theatre training and competition. The Region’s Leadership, with support from the Pittsburgh Playhouse of Point Park University, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, enabled the invitation of 115 college and university theatre programs to present and receive feedback on student work. Of the 700 students in attendance, 25 were from West Chester University. They were joined by 2 faculty members from the department.
West Chester University students received the following commendations at the festival:
- Raven Burckhalter was invited to perform in the KCACTF 2024 Cabaret. It was also announced that Burckhalter will be working in a professional production of Once on this Island at Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company this Spring.
- Ania Hawkins-Williams received a Civic Dramaturgy commendation for work on Me, War and Toy Grenade
- Eli McBride received a Creative Audience Engagement Commendation for Dramaturgical work on Kiss Me Kate.
- Victoria Naftel was presented the Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology Award, Regional 2 for Charlotte’s Web puppets. She won a trip to Seattle, Washington, to present at the United States Institute of Theatre Technology this spring.
- DJ Ty Tansey was featured at the Late-Night Dance Party
- Isabella Yackanicz was a Musical Theatre Initiative (MTI) Finalist and received a one-on-one coaching session.
- Griffen Anderson, Myra Kelley, and Victoria Naftel received First Place in the Timed Props Event as part of the Technical Olympics.
West Chester University students attended workshops in resume development, cold readings,
dance, design, and more. They also attended luncheons, participated in Technical Olympics,
attended design exhibit presentations, entered competitions, and performed.
Courtney H. Parker ’25, who is a Theatre Arts minor, attended the festival and said, “I loved creating connections with professional theatre artists! It was so wonderful for them to share their love of theatre, and it inspired me to delve deeper into my love! I also appreciated getting closer to my classmates and strengthening bonds with people with whom I work, learn, and perform!”
Students also visited and met with some artistic directors of the August Wilson Cultural Center, The City Theatre, Barebones Theatre, the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, the Point Park PNC Theatre, the Point Park Highmark Theatre, and Byham Theatre.
The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival is a national theater program involving 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country. KCACTF aims to encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs; Provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight, and achieve professionalism; Improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States; and encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived; and experimental works.
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.