The Muskingum University Theatre Program had 18 student participants in the national Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region Two during the first week of January.
KCACTF is a program for collegiate theater designers, actors, and stage managers that offers students the opportunity to showcase their work at the national level and receive professional feedback.
There were nine Muskingum students who participated in the Design, Technology, and Management (DTM) presentations, presenting work from shows done in the last year at Muskingum, or designs from projects.
Five Muskingum students won awards in four different areas.
Aliyah Guthrie, junior theatre major, received The Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology Award for her masks that she designed and constructed for Muskingum’s production of “The Gypsy Woman,” during the Spring 2021 semester.
Masks made by junior theatre major Aliyah Guthrie. Guthrie presented her design process for these masks in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Kacie Houston, senior theatre and English major, presented scenic design for “She Kills Monsters” and received an Honorable Mention for Scenic Design.
Houston also participated in the final round of the Stage Management Fellowship for work during “Anne of Green Gables.” Houston is the first Muskingum student to make it to the final round.
Christina Tyree-Branham, 2021 graduate, was awarded The Vectorworks Award for her light design for “Anne of Green Gables,” which was performed at Muskingum in October 2021.
David McDonald, senior theatre major, submitted his sound design for “Anne of Green Gables,” and received The Jane Childs DTM Legacy Award.
Augusta Kinzel, senior theatre and history major, received The Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology Award Honorable Mention for her “Anne of Green Gables” hair design.
Student designers Augusta Kinzel, Aliyah Guthrie, Christina Tyree-Branham and David McDonald all submitted their designs from “Anne of Green Gables” for KCACTF. All four designers were KCACTF award recipients. Photo by Cassie King.
Four of the 18 students that participated in the festival were nominees for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition. Junior Ava Hayslip and senior Augusta Kinzel were nominated by a KCACTF respondent to participate in the competition after they acted in “The Gypsy Woman” as Franceschina and Flavio last spring.
Junior Evie Barnhouse and senior Sydney Campbell were nominated for the competition after their performance in “Anne of Green Gables” last fall. Barnhouse played Mrs. Lynde and Campbell played Anne. Freshman Grace Phillips was nominated as an alternate for her performance of Diana.
Campbell, Kinzel and junior theatre and biology major Emma Jimison represented Muskingum in the Musical Theatre Intensive program.
Muskingum has participated in the KCACTF program for the last four years under Professor Cassie King, this year having the most participants in several areas.
