Theatre Department Makes History at American College Theatre Festival
Doane's Theatre Department had its most impressive showing in the college's history at this year's Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Overland Park, Kan.
Doane earned more awards than all other colleges and universities in a seven state region which includes Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.
The awards include five Meritorious Achievement Awards: Best Acting Ensemble, "A Dream Play"; Best Directing, Zach Kloppenborg (Emmet, Neb.) for "Book of Tink"; Best Scenic Design, Josh Rajaee (Norfolk, Neb.) for "Book of Tink" and Best Scenic Design for "Evil Dead the Musical"; and Best Stage Management, Brianna Schreiner (Lorton, Va.) for "Evil Dead the Musical".
The festival, held Jan. 17-23 at Johnson County Community College, provided students an opportunity to compete in the Irene Ryan acting competition. Becky Marsh (Bellevue, Neb.) and her partner Joe Anderson (Omaha, Neb.) made it to the final round - the top 16 out of 280 actors - a first for Doane College. According to one of the judges, Marsh was among the top the top five actors.
Students earned three Design Awards for "Evil Dead the Musical": first place in National Sound Design Awards to Chet Miller (Farmington, N.M.); second place in Barbizon Awards for Scenery to Josh Rajaee (Norfolk, Neb.); and second place for Regional Prop Design Awards to Troy Lewellen (Crete, Neb.).
Zach Kloppenborg (Emmet, Neb.) was selected for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) National Fellowship Scene Audition. Chris Owens (Holdrege, Neb.) was selected for Directing a Concert Reading of a National Playwriting Program (NPP).
The festival is a national theatre program involving students from colleges and universities nationwide. Regional festivals like the one in Overland Park showcase the best work of students and faculty in the area. Doane is in Region V, the largest region in the country, consisting of seven states, nearly 2,000 students and their faculty mentors from approximately 75 colleges and universities.
Student participants included:
| Adrianna Choquette (Upland) - Irene Ryan candidate |
| Bailey Peyton (West Point) - One Act participant |
| Brian Varvaro (Nebraska City) - Playwriting focus |
| Chris Owens (Holdrege) - Director: 10-minute scene |
| Chet Miller (Farmington, N.M.) - 1st place sound design |
| Joe Anderson (Omaha) - Irene Ryan partner (Rebecca Marsh) |
| Josh Rajaee (Norfolk) - 2nd place scenic design |
| Jailyn Hagaman (Crete) - Irene Ryan partner (Adrianna Choquette) |
| Katy Anderson (Johnstown, Colo. - One Act participant |
| Kevin Anderson (Omaha) - Irene Ryan partner (Laura Jacob) |
| Laura Jacob (Forest Lake, Minn.) - Irene Ryan candidate |
| Michael Ulmer (Texarkana, Tex.) - Irene Ryan candidate |
| Nathan Mireles (Bellevue) - Choreography focus |
| Rebecca Marsh (Bellevue) - Irene Ryan candidate [Finalist] |
| Sammie Ware (Lincoln) - Irene Ryan partner (Michael Ulmer) |
| Troy Lewellen (Crete) - 2nd place prop design |
| Zach Kloppenborg (Emmet) - Director: One Act |