FESTIVAL 54 is here!

The Region 8 festival will be a 4-day event, February 7-11, 2022, and will feature invited productions and all your favorite categories including Irene Ryans; DTM; Representation, Equity and Diversity; Playwriting; Directing; Musical Theatre Initiative; Stage Management; and workshops.  We will also include dynamic guests, Student Advisory Board events, panels and student socials and much, much more. We plan to take another year pause with the InterAct Auditions and Interviews, but intend to bring it back to a live festival in 2023.  

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.  Please join us for opening ceremonies on Monday, February 7th, 2022 at 7:30pm (PST) featuring Region 8 alums Ruben Carabjal ("Hamilton"),  Salisha Thomas ("Beautiful") and Tony Hagopian (Executive Director, URTA).  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

  • Brown Face

    Written by Carissa Atallah
    Directed by Cat Priamos

    University of California, Riverside

     

  •  

    Tedious Demons

    Devised by the Company
    Directed by Matthew Burgos

    Mt San Antonio College

  • A Christmas Carol - A Live Radio Play

    Adapted from the Charles Dickens novella by Anthony F. Palermo

    Directed by Janine Christl

    Fresno City College

  • He Leo Aloha

    Written and directed by Kaipulaumakaniolono

    University of Hawai'i - Manoa

  • A Surge of Power

    A Black Lives Matter Devised Production
    Directed by Shaunte Caraballo

    California State University - Dominguez Hills

  • Antigone

    By Sophocles
    Directed by Kevin Dressler

    Mesa Community College (Arizona)

Program Areas

Workshops

Festival 54 has workshops!  LOTS OF WORKSHOPS - In Acting, Directing, Design, Technology, Management, Playwriting, Musical Theatre, Dramaturgy, Devised Theatre 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.  This year, we will hear from Region 8 alums Ruben Carabjal ("Hamilton"),  Salisha Thomas ("Beautiful") and Tony Hagopian (Executive Director, URTA).
 

 

 
 

Representation, Equity, & Diversity

KCACTF's new Representation, Equity, and Diversity (RED) program is pleased to present several workshops in addition to proposing and enacting trainings, policies and procedures that improve our region's representation, equity, and diversity practices. Our work includes encouraging the integration of Representation, Equity and Diversity into all festival offerings and responses.  Festival 54 RED offerings in addition to RED integration in other workshops include: "What's Next? Navigating entry into the professional world", "The Black Theatre Network", "Uplifting Pasifika Voices in Theatre" and "Black Theatre in Action".   We hope that you enjoy a festival where you are represented, treated equitably, and enjoy experiences that embrace our region's beautiful diversity.  

 

 

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 a solo singing competition and virtual cabaret. Preliminary singing auditions consist of a 60-second audition from which 16 finalists will be selected to perform in our MTI Virtual 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 Thursday, February 10th.
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 area is selected to attend and represent region 8 at the National Festival
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  

 

 

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

 

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.
 

Kara Thomson 

(Mesa Community College, AZ)

Past Region 8 DTM Chair, educator and designer

Andre Harrington 

(CSU San Bernardino)

Past Region 8 DTM Chair, Past BTN Chair,
educator and designer

Leslie Ferreira 

(Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy)

Past Region 8 Directing Coordinator,
educator and director

This year's Judith Royer Award 
for Excellence in Production Response is

Kathy Ervin

(CSU San Bernardino)

Past BTN Chair, educator and director