Fourteen Baker University students traveled to the University of Kansas to take part in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 5 from Jan. 18-24.
“We have a six-state region in which shows have been competing all year and we kind of all get together,” Associate Professor of Theater Tom Heiman said. “It’s a massive festival.”
The first two days of the festival were full of acting, design and stage management competitions along with special workshops. The remaining days were filled with invited productions, original script work and workshops from nationally recognized experts for all of the theatrical arts.
Four of the students that participated in the festival were also nominated for the Irene Ryan Scholarship. Juniors Josh Morgan, Bob Linebarger and Justin Whittaker and senior Kyle Dyck were among the actors competing for the scholarship.
“Respondents come to our theater and see our show and they select two or three actors from each show they think are particularly good,” Heiman said. “Over 375 actors were chosen from around the region.”
Dyck made the first cut to the semi-final round where 64 actors competed. He was partnered with sophomore Ali Watson. The pair performed two pieces.
“It was awesome being nominated,” Dyck said. “I’ve been people’s partners before, but I’ve never been nominated, so it was a really good feeling.”
Watson said she enjoyed being partnered with Dyck.
“We worked really well together,” she said. “I didn’t feel like we had any problems communicating in our scenes. There wasn’t any struggle between us.”
Students also got the chance to audition or interview for technical positions for Summer Stock, and all got at least one callback. Junior Rachael Moon participated in a stage management competition, as well. Moon was invited because of her work on “Macbeth.”
Heiman said it was hard to say what was most beneficial.
“It’s hard to tell between seeing some really incredible college products and the workshops,” he said.