The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theatre program dedicated to the improvement of collegiate theatre in the United States. Focused on the celebration of diverse and exciting theatre, KCACTF involves students from more than 600 colleges and universities throughout the United States.
While the culmination of the KCACTF is the national festival held in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center, the majority of students involved in the program compete in one of eight regional competitions. Over 18,000 students are involved in at least one aspect of KCACTF.
Although the national festival is intended to be the pinnacle of the collegiate theatre year and not necessarily a competition, there are a number of scholarships and awards presented throughout the week, including the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships. Other competitions include playwriting, directing, set design, costume design, lighting design, sound design, and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre critic's institute and dramaturgy awards, including the David Mark Cohen National Playwriting Award.
KCACTF has divided up the United States in 8 separate regions. There are:
| Region | States |
|---|---|
| Region I | |
| Region II |
New York is split between Regions 1 & 2. |
| Region III | |
| Region IV | |
| Region V | |
| Region VI | |
| Region VII | |
| Region VIII |
California is split between Regions 7 & 8. |
Previous Award Recipients Production Awards The productions below have been recognized for their outstanding achievement. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category have been recognized for distinguished achievement.
Outstanding Production of a Play
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Outstanding Production of a New Work
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University.
Outstanding Production of a Devised Work
Outstanding Production of a Modern Classic
The individuals below have been recognized for their direction of plays, musicals, classic and devised works, and new plays and musicals. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category; those individual artists under consideration, have been recognized for distinguished achievement.
Outstanding Career Achievement in Directing
This production marked John David Lutz's 24th production showcased at Regional Festivals since 1971. Six of these productions were additionally showcased at the National Festival at the Kennedy Center. In 2007, by special invitation, his University of Evansville production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors was one of the Kennedy Center's contributions to the "Shakespeare in Washington" celebration.
Outstanding Director of a Play
Outstanding Director of a Classic
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work
Outstanding Director of a New Work
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University.
| Year | Actress | Role - Production | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Jacquelyne Jones | as Diana in Next to Normal | Utah Valley University |
| 2014 | Rachel Staton | Ensemble in The Laramie Project | University of Mississippi |
| 2013 | Abby Vombrack | as Anna Fierling in Mother Courage | Illinois State University |
| 2013 | Elizabeth Golden | as Ursula in Vincent In Brixton | Utah Valley University |
| 2012 | Rene Michelle Aranda[2] | as Willy the Space Freak in The Unseen Hand [3] | Los Angeles City College, Theatre Academy |
| 2012 | Haley Jane Pierce | as Clara Ann Fowler in Flipside: The Patti Page Story | University of Central Oklahoma |
| Year | Actor | Role - Production | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | James Weschler | as Kafka in Kafka in Tel Aviv | Salem State University |
| 2013 | Nathan Burke | Ensemble in The Laramie Project | University of Mississippi |
| 2013 | Jonathan Amaro | as Platero in Platero y Yo | University of Puerto Rico |
| 2012 | John Stewart | as Frederick Douglass/Jim in Splittin' the Raft | Kennesaw State University |
| 2012 | Dylan Frederick | as Hallie in Master Harold and the Boys | University of Evansville |
Outstanding Choreography or Movement Direction
Outstanding Scenic Design
Outstanding Sound Design
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Lighting Design
Outstanding Performance by a Guest Artist
Outstanding Achievement in Composition
Outstanding Performance and Production Ensembles
A list of the Irene Ryan Scholarship winners, the partners that assisted their wins, and the colleges they represented, spanning from 1972 to 2013: