THD Students Honored at 2025 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

Congratulations to the students and faculty who proudly represented the Department of Theatre and Dance (THD) and UB at the 57^th annual Region II Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) at the Playhouse Theatre in Pittsburgh, January 14-18, 2025. KCACTF is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from universities across the country. It exists to celebrate the educational and creative process of college theatre. There are eight regions in the United States and winners of regional festivals advance to the annual national event hosted in Washington D.C.

KCACTF provides theater students opportunities to showcase their work, receive critical feedback, and to attend shows which other schools are producing, while networking amongst peers. Faculty in attendance also benefit from professional development opportunities with colleagues from across the region.

Each year, THD supports its students by entering our productions into KCACTF. As in 2024, a large contingent of THD undergraduates participated, accompanied by faculty member James Beaudry, Assistant Teaching Professor, in this extension of our curricular season.

10 THD students participated and many received nominations as a result of entering department work:

·         Ty Burgess, “Ride The Cyclone” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee

·         Ryan Butler, “9 to 5 The Musical” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee, Musical Theatre Intensive

·         Hannah Countermine, “9 to 5 The Musical” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee, Musical Theatre Intensive

·         Sheila Fastoff, “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” - Design/Technology/Management Expo -Scenic Design

·         Lisa Gallagher, “Ride The Cyclone” - Design/Tech/Management Expo - Sound Design & Projection Design

·         Juno Hunter, “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship

·         Jenesis Marquez, “Ride The Cyclone” - Design/Tech/Management Expo - Costume Design, 24 Hour Play Fest, Tech Olympics

·         Julia Pitarresi, “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee, Musical Theatre Intensive

·         Audree Woods, “Ride The Cyclone” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee, Musical Theatre Intensive

·         Andre White, “Fabulation” - Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee

Additionally, Audree Woods received an award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Dance, as well as a $1000 Open Jar Institute Scholarship. Lisa Gallagher received a Sound Design Excellence Award for Region 2, as well as an URTA Candidate Award, advancing her to the national KCACTF conference in Washington D.C. Gallagher also received an Honorable Mention for Projection Design Excellence.

Jenesis Marquez was awarded an Excellence in Group Collaboration Award for the 24 Hour Play Festival, plus a Tech Olympics First Place Team Award. Ryan Butler received an award for Excellence in Musical Comedy Performance. Woods and Hannah Countermine performed with the Musical Theatre Ensemble for the closing of the conference.

Per its mission statement, KCACTF’s primary goals are to encourage 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; improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States; and encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, the classics, and experimental works.

Since inception, KCACTF has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills, and receive national recognition for excellence.