FESTIVAL 53 is here!

The Region 8 festival will be a 4-day event, February 10-
13, 2021, and will feature invited productions and all your
favorite categories including Irene Ryans, DTM,
Playwriting, ASPIRE (Arts Leadership), Directing, Musical
Theatre Initiative, Stage Management, Devised, Theatre
Journalism, Dramaturgy, and workshops.  We will also
include dynamic guest speakers; Representation, Equity
and Diversity programming and much, much more. We
plan to take a one-year pause with the InterAct Auditions
and Interviews, but intend to bring it back to a live
festival in 2022.  

Below you will find information and videos about all the different programs, events, and activities at the festival.  Start exploring the areas below.  You can also peruse the speaker list and schedule that are both being updated daily.  When the festival begins the morning of February 10th, 2021,  you'll then be able to enter the virtual lobby, through which you will access all the categories, workshops, events, exhibitions, and key note speakers for the festival!  Enjoy!

Invited Productions

  • ALICE IN HOLLYWOODLAND

    Written by Richard Alger
    Directed and choreographed by Tina Kronis

    Los Angeles City College

     

  • I'm Lot Lane (a solo effort)

    A new play by Keola Simpson
    and members of ¡好 / Peligro!
    (or Aloha also means goodbye)
    Directed by Kealiikeola Simpson

    University of Hawai'i at Manoa

  • Confessions of Women from East LA

    Written by Josefina Lopez
    Directed by Stefani Baez

    CSU Dominguez Hills

  • Oriental Faddah and Son

    Written by Lee A. Tonouchi
    Directed by Taurie Kinoshita

    Windward Community College

  • Living Six Feet Apart

    A Company Generated Work
    Directed by Saundra Mcclain

    Cal State Fullerton

  • Crushing the Curve: Illumination

    A Company Generated Work
    Directed by Jenny Kokai

    Weber State University

Program Areas

Workshops

Festival 53 has workshops!  LOTS OF WORKSHOPS - In Acting, Directing, Design, Technology, Management, Playwriting, Musical Theatre, Dramaturgy, Devised Theatre, Writing, Arts Administration, and more!
MORE HERE

 

Speakers and Guests

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS! Check the schedule and guest list for big names in our industry speaking to our region about Acting/Directing, Playwriting, Design, and Representation.

 

 
 

Representation, Equity, & Diversity

KCACTF's new Representation, Equity, and Diversity (RED) program is planning a slate of activities for the festival.  Speakers, forums, and workshops are being planned to help change the face of our industry and promote new ways of thinking and planning theatre.  

 

 

Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions

Monlogues from nominees will be available for attendees to view, all Irene Ryan participants will recieve live professional feedback on their performances. One actor will be selected to represent the region at the KCACTF National Festival.  MORE HERE

 

Musical Theatre Initiative and Cabernet

This years' Musical Theatre Initiative & Cabaret will feature both a solo singing and a dance competition. Preliminary singing auditions consist of a 60-second audition from which 16 finalists will be selected to perform in our MTI Virtual Cabaret. Dancers submit a short dance combination and finalists will be selected to perform in the cabaret. One finalist will be selected to represent our region at the KCACTF National Festival. The MTI Cabaret will be available for all festival participants to view on Friday, February 12th. MORE HERE

 

Design, Technology, & Management

DTM Gallery features student design and technology work in the areas of scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and allied crafts & technology.  All work will receive professional feedback.  One student in each design area is selected to attend and represent region 8 at the National Festival. One Allied Crafts student will be invited to a training/networking event at the Santa Fe Opera House.
MORE HERE

 

National Playwriting Program

10-Minute Plays and One-Act Plays!  Invited student plays will be given professional mentorship and staged readings (via Zoom) at the festival.  Performed live at the festival!  MORE HERE  

 

 

ASPIRE & Arts Leadership Program

This program is for pre-registered students interested in a training opportunity in arts leadership.  ASPIRE also offers a BIPOC student the opportunity to be selected to participate in a national ASPIRE Arts Leadership program ath the KCACTF National Festival. MORE HERE  

 

 

Directing Program

SDC directing program is an opportunity for students to be mentored and guided by professional directors, educators, and peers. In Region 8 students participate in closed workshops, showing work and receiving feedback.  Participants submit their work prior to the festival.  MORE HERE

 

Theatre, Journalism, and Advocacy 

Selected student participants from the region will have the opportunity to develop their writing crafts with mentoring from professionals in criticism and advocacy.  MORE HERE

 

Dramaturgy Program

Dramaturgy for new modalities!  Submit your dramaturgical work both physical and ditigal for expert response and possible regional recognition.  Also, Embedded Dramaturgy.  Work as a dramaturg at festival with a new NPP play.  MORE HERE

 

Devised Theatre

There are two ways you can be part of the Devised Theatre program at this year’s Virtual festival.
 
You can start with the prompt: THIS IS THE COUNTRY WE WANT and let it instigate discussion and questions. Allow the prompt to guide, or you can follow what is on your minds collectively and go from there. Ensembles should reach out to a faculty member who can serve as mentor/advisor for your process and who will help to keep the project moving forward. For any questions, please reach out to me at bvalle@cuesta.edu MORE HERE

 

Student Advisory Board

The new Student Advisory Committee will provide a bridge between the KCACTF Region 8 Board and the students they serve to empower student involvement with KCACTF organizational, strategic, and community engagement throughout the Region.  
 

Respondents Workshop

The Respondents Workshop team invites faculty colleagues, professional peers, and graduate students to join us for one of two response training sessions during the festival. The response is the heart of the festival. The purpose of this workshop is to help you develop skills and gain confidence as a KCACTF respondent. In these sessions, you will learn the most effective practices to recognize, encourage and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in the region.

 

Invited Scenes

The invited scenes is an opportunity to highlight those memorable moments that left lasting impacts on the audiences around our region. We all wish that more productions could travel to our festival, and the invited scenes is an exciting opportunity to give praise where praise is due. These scenes represent the surprising and original, the images and words that we found coming back into our memory many days after the viewing of the production. You will see how impactful jumping into in the middle of a show can be and how the ensemble and design carry the story with little to no introduction.

 

 

Award Winners

Each year, the eight KCACTF regions honor individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. This year's Kennedy Center Golden Medallion Award recipients are:
 

Fred Fate
Past Region 8 Chair 
&
Bree Valle
Educator and director