The KCACTF National AwardsBeginning in 2012, productions from universities invited to the eight regional festivals, in addition to showcasing their collaborative accomplishments for an audience of more than 1,000 theater artists, were eligible for recognition for national awards celebrating outstanding achievement. A selection panel consisting of members of the KCACTF National Committee, Executive Committee, and the KCACTF Artistic Director met over the eight weeks of the regional festival calendar to discuss the work. At the conclusion of the final festival at the University of Oklahoma, the selection panel made the award decisions described below.
What follows is a list of the productions and individuals recognized for outstanding achievement. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category; those productions and individual artists under consideration for these national awards, have been recognized for distinguished achievement. |
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
2013 Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University
2012 Six Characters adapted from Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author, Iowa State University.
Distinguished Productions of a Play:
2012 The House of the Spirits by Caridad Svich, from the novel by Isabel Allende, Florida International University;
and Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard, University of Evansville.
Outstanding Production of a Musical
2013 Godspell, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by John-Michael Tebelak, California State University - Fullerton
2012 Flipside: The Patti Page Story by Greg White, University of Central Oklahoma.
Distinguished Productions of a Musical:
2013 Spring Awakening, music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, based on the play by Frnak Wedekind, Sam Houston State University
2012 The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry,
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University;
Gone Missing, music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, book by Steve Cosson, Hope College;
RENT by Jonathan Larson, University of Southern Indiana;
and Xanadu, book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, Weber State University.
Outstanding Production of a New Work
2013 Platero y Yo by Juan Ramon Jimenez, adapted for the stage by Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson, University of Puerto Rico
2012 The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry,
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University.
Distinguished Productions of New Work:
2013 Ghost Bike by Laura Jacqmin, Carthage College
Erin Go Bragh-Less by John Shea, Boston University
Bellocq's Ophelia, Hollins University
2012 Bandersnatch by Josh Blann and Brandon Smith, Midwestern State University;
Flipside: The Patti Page Story by Greg White, University of Central Oklahoma;
Our Lady by James Fluhr, Boston University;
Lindsey’s Oyster by Tammy Ryan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania;
and The Railsplitter by Rick Cleveland, Carthage College.
Outstanding Production of a Devised Work
2013 Dromnium, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
2012 Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus.
Distinguished Productions of Devised Work:
2013 Insula, Montclair State University
Playing Dirty, Allegheny College
Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy
2012 The Icarus Project, Suffolk County Community College;
and US,Western Washington University.
Outstanding Production of a Modern Classic
2013 Mother Courage, Illinois State University
2012 Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus.
Distinguished Productions of a Classic Play:
2013 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
2012 The Beaux’ Stratagem by George Farquhar, adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig, Michigan State University;
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Oklahoma City University;
and Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Towson University.
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
2013 Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University
2012 Six Characters adapted from Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author, Iowa State University.
Distinguished Productions of a Play:
2012 The House of the Spirits by Caridad Svich, from the novel by Isabel Allende, Florida International University;
and Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard, University of Evansville.
Outstanding Production of a Musical
2013 Godspell, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by John-Michael Tebelak, California State University - Fullerton
2012 Flipside: The Patti Page Story by Greg White, University of Central Oklahoma.
Distinguished Productions of a Musical:
2013 Spring Awakening, music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, based on the play by Frnak Wedekind, Sam Houston State University
2012 The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry,
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University;
Gone Missing, music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, book by Steve Cosson, Hope College;
RENT by Jonathan Larson, University of Southern Indiana;
and Xanadu, book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, Weber State University.
Outstanding Production of a New Work
2013 Platero y Yo by Juan Ramon Jimenez, adapted for the stage by Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson, University of Puerto Rico
2012 The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry,
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University.
Distinguished Productions of New Work:
2013 Ghost Bike by Laura Jacqmin, Carthage College
Erin Go Bragh-Less by John Shea, Boston University
Bellocq's Ophelia, Hollins University
2012 Bandersnatch by Josh Blann and Brandon Smith, Midwestern State University;
Flipside: The Patti Page Story by Greg White, University of Central Oklahoma;
Our Lady by James Fluhr, Boston University;
Lindsey’s Oyster by Tammy Ryan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania;
and The Railsplitter by Rick Cleveland, Carthage College.
Outstanding Production of a Devised Work
2013 Dromnium, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
2012 Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus.
Distinguished Productions of Devised Work:
2013 Insula, Montclair State University
Playing Dirty, Allegheny College
Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy
2012 The Icarus Project, Suffolk County Community College;
and US,Western Washington University.
Outstanding Production of a Modern Classic
2013 Mother Courage, Illinois State University
2012 Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus.
Distinguished Productions of a Classic Play:
2013 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
2012 The Beaux’ Stratagem by George Farquhar, adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig, Michigan State University;
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Oklahoma City University;
and Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Towson University.
DIRECTING AWARDS
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
2012 John David Lutz, Master Harold and the Boys, University of Evansville.
This production marks 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
2013 Christopher Clark for Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University
2012 Matt Foss for Six Characters, adapted from Luigi Pirandello, Iowa State University.
Distinguished Directors of a Play:
2013 Carol Blitgen, Clarke University, The Glass Menagerie; Amy Feinberg, University of the Arts, The Walls;
Steven Lantz-Gefroh, Suffolk University, The Foreigner; Sandi Zielinski, Illinois State University, Mother Courage.
2012 Carol Blitgen, Clarke University, The Caretaker;
and Michael Yawney for House of the Spirits by Caridad Svich, adapted from the novel by Isabel Allende.
Outstanding Director of a Classic
2012 Maria Porter for Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus.
Distinguished Directors of a Classic:
2012 Kevin Asselin for Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Oklahoma City University;
and Edward Daranyi for The Beaux’ Stratagem by George Farquhar, adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig.
Outstanding Director of a Musical
2013 Jim Taulli and Craig Tyrl for Godspell, California State University - Fullerton.
2012 Greg White for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma.
Distinguished Directors of a Musical:
2013 Greg Graham for Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.
2012 Eric Altheide for RENT by Jonathan Larson, University of Southern Indiana;
Jim Christian for Xanadu, book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Jeff Lyne and John Farrar, Weber State University;
Dana Robins for Gone Missing, music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, book by Steve Cosson, Hope College;
and Beth Turcotte for The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the Company, Ball State University.
Outstanding Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work
2013 Leslie Ferreira, Tina Kronis and Richard Alger, Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy.
2012 Rich Brown, Us, Western Washington University.
Distinguished Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work:
2013 Kari Margolis, Insula, Montclair State University; Bob Stevenson, Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
2012 Maria Porter, Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C. W. Post Campus.
Outstanding Director of a New Work
2013 Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson for Platero y Yo by Juan Ramón Jiménez, University of Puerto Rico.
2012 Beth Turcotte for The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry,
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University.
Distinguished Directors of a New Work:
2013 Hondo Weiss-Richmond for Erin Go Bragh-Less by John Shea, Boston University;
Mark Brotherton for Last Chance, University of Central Florida; and Herschel Kruger for Ghost Bike, Carthage College
2012 Brandon Smith for Bandersnatch, Midwestern State University;
and Greg White for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma
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
2012 John David Lutz, Master Harold and the Boys, University of Evansville.
This production marks 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
2013 Christopher Clark for Vincent In Brixton by Nicholas Wright, Utah Valley University
2012 Matt Foss for Six Characters, adapted from Luigi Pirandello, Iowa State University.
Distinguished Directors of a Play:
2013 Carol Blitgen, Clarke University, The Glass Menagerie; Amy Feinberg, University of the Arts, The Walls;
Steven Lantz-Gefroh, Suffolk University, The Foreigner; Sandi Zielinski, Illinois State University, Mother Courage.
2012 Carol Blitgen, Clarke University, The Caretaker;
and Michael Yawney for House of the Spirits by Caridad Svich, adapted from the novel by Isabel Allende.
Outstanding Director of a Classic
2012 Maria Porter for Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus.
Distinguished Directors of a Classic:
2012 Kevin Asselin for Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Oklahoma City University;
and Edward Daranyi for The Beaux’ Stratagem by George Farquhar, adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig.
Outstanding Director of a Musical
2013 Jim Taulli and Craig Tyrl for Godspell, California State University - Fullerton.
2012 Greg White for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma.
Distinguished Directors of a Musical:
2013 Greg Graham for Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.
2012 Eric Altheide for RENT by Jonathan Larson, University of Southern Indiana;
Jim Christian for Xanadu, book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Jeff Lyne and John Farrar, Weber State University;
Dana Robins for Gone Missing, music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, book by Steve Cosson, Hope College;
and Beth Turcotte for The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the Company, Ball State University.
Outstanding Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work
2013 Leslie Ferreira, Tina Kronis and Richard Alger, Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy.
2012 Rich Brown, Us, Western Washington University.
Distinguished Lead Deviser/Director of a Devised Work:
2013 Kari Margolis, Insula, Montclair State University; Bob Stevenson, Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
2012 Maria Porter, Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C. W. Post Campus.
Outstanding Director of a New Work
2013 Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson for Platero y Yo by Juan Ramón Jiménez, University of Puerto Rico.
2012 Beth Turcotte for The Circus in Winter, music and lyrics by Ben Clark, book by the students of the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry,
inspired by the novel by Cathy Day, Ball State University.
Distinguished Directors of a New Work:
2013 Hondo Weiss-Richmond for Erin Go Bragh-Less by John Shea, Boston University;
Mark Brotherton for Last Chance, University of Central Florida; and Herschel Kruger for Ghost Bike, Carthage College
2012 Brandon Smith for Bandersnatch, Midwestern State University;
and Greg White for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma
CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD
The individuals below have been recognized for their choreography of musicals and classic plays. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category; those individual artists under consideration, have been recognized for distinguished achievement.
Outstanding Choreography
2013 Bob Stevenson with Ian Miller, Phil Whiteaker, Aron Long, Laura Wineland, Stuart Campbell, Ashley Behm, and Joseph Rodriguez-Barberá for Dromnium,
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
2012 Skye Edwards for Gone Missing, Hope College.
Distinguished Achievement in Choreography:
2013 Jim Taulli and Craig Tyrl for Godspell, California State University-Fullerton; Lexi Mondot for Bellocq’s Ophelia, Hollins University;
Tina Kronis for Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy; Jonathan Charles for Enron, Sam Houston State University;
Maria Eugenia Mercado and Julia Thompson for Platero y Yo, University of Puerto Rico; and Greg Graham for Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.
2012 Kevin Asselin [fight direction] for Macbeth, University of Central Oklahoma;
Jim Christian for Xanadu, Weber State University;
and Shannon Hurleigh for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma.
DESIGN AWARDS
The individuals below have been recognized for their outstanding achievement in design. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category; those individual artists under consideration, have been recognized for distinguished achievement.
Outstanding Scenic Design
2013 Stephen Purdy, Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University;
Shannon Meyer, Ghost Bike, Carthage College.
2012 Christopher and Justin Swader, The Circus in Winter, Ball State University.
Distinguished Achievement in Scenic Design:
2013 Cocol Bernal, A Streetcar Named Desire, Albright University; Ernest Zulia and John Forsman, Bellocq’s Ophelia, Hollins University;
and Liz Freese, Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.
2012 Jesse Dreikosen, The House of the Spirits, Florida International University;
and Eric Renschler, Master Harold and the Boys, University of Evansville.
Outstanding Sound Design
2013 L.J. Luthringer, Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
2012 Sun Hee Kil, Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma.
Distinguished Achievement in Sound Design: Jess Snellings,
2013 Distinguished Achievement in Sound Design: Justin Glombicki, In The Soundless Awe, Concordia University Chicago;
Natasha Cox and Vern Yonemura, Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy;
Tony Brown, Insula, Montclair State University; and Simon Skluzacek, Ghost Bike, Carthage College.
2012 Dream Play, Bridgewater College.
Outstanding Costume Design
2013 JenNessa Law, Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University
2012 Caroline Spitzer, The House of the Spirits, Florida International University.
Distinguished Achievement in Costume Design:
2013 Emily Billington for The Importance Of Being Earnest, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point;
Abel Alvarado and Cita Lena Lee for Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy; '
and Brittany Powers for Mother Courage, Illinois State University
2012 Holly Labbe for Dream Play, Bridgewater College;
and Corey Martin for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma.
Outstanding Lighting Design
2013 Hannah Yaeger for Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
2012 Matt Meldrem for Six Characters, Iowa State University.
Distinguished Achievement in Lighting Design:
2013 Charles Monte for Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter, University of Idaho; Martin McClendon for Ghost Bike, Carthage College;
and Eric Marsh for Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University.
2012 Andy Catron for The Circus in Winter, Ball State University;
Tony Galaska for The House of the Spirits, Florida International University;
and Art Whaley for Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma.
ACTING AWARDS
The individuals below have been recognized for their achievement in plays and musicals. Additionally, the "nominees" for each category; those individual artists under consideration, have been recognized for distinguished achievement.
Outstanding Performance by an Actress
2013 Abby Vombrack as Anna Fierling in Mother Courage, Illinois State University;
and Elizabeth Golden as Ursula in Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University
2012 Rene Michelle Aranda as Willy the Space Freak in The Unseen Hand, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy;
and Haley Jane Pierce as Clara Ann Fowler in Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma
Distinguished Achievement:
2013 Victoria Villareal, Wendla in Spring Awakening, Sam Houston State University
Jessie Tidball, Tilly in Melancholy Play, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Erin Archer, Beverly in The Receptionist, Community College of Rhode Island
Shawnee Johnson, Margaret Fuller in Charm, Weber State University
Katelynn Schiller, Waki/Traveler, Icarus, Central Washington University
Ashley Behm, Beth in Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
2012 Jennifer Chandler, Cellist/Narrator in The Elephant Man, Brigham Young University
Victoria Collado, Clara in The House of the Spirits, Florida International University
Chelsea David, Lisa Needham in The Glory of Living, Centenary College of Louisiana
Kevia Goings, Black Mary in Gem of the Ocean, University of Central Florida
Brittany Rebhuhn, the Mother, Six Characters, Iowa State University
Jessica Stark, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Western Connecticut State University
Madison Welterlen, the Daughter, Six Characters, Iowa State University
Erin Oechsel, Jennie Dixiana in The Circus in Winter, Ball State University
Outstanding Performance by an Actor
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
and Dylan Frederick as Hallie in Master Harold and the Boys, University of Evansville
Distinguished Achievement:
2013 Michael Files, Charlie in The Foreigner, Suffolk Community College
Kevin Rose, Jesus in Godspell, California State University-Fullerton
2012 Anachebe Asomuga, Collins in RENT, University of Southern Indiana
James Fluhr in Our Lady, Boston University
Wes Haskell, Archer in The Beaux’ Stratagem, Michigan State University
Darick Pead, Frederick Treves in The Elephant Man, Brigham Young University
Austin Rea, Aston in The Caretaker, Clarke University
Graham Ward, John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Brigham Young University
Jefferson White, the Son in Six Characters, Iowa State University
Adam Woodruff, Roger in RENT, University of Southern Indiana
Outstanding Performance by a Guest Artist
2012 Lindsie Van Winkle as Patti in Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma
Distinguished Performance by a Faculty Guest Artist
2012 Belinda Boyd as Aunt Esther, Gem of the Ocean, University of Central Florida
Outstanding Achievement in Composition
2013 Zack Powell for Mother Courage, Illinois State University
Outstanding Performance and Production Ensembles
2013 Platero y Yo, University of Puerto Rico
and Dromnium, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Distinguised Achievement:
2013 Godspell, California State University-Fullerton
Bellocq’s Ophelia, Hollins University
Insula, Montclair State University
Playing Dirty, Allegheny College
Erin Go Bragh-Less, Boston University
Vincent In Brixton, Utah Valley University
Bronze Star, Citrus College
Untitled Warhol Project, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy
2012 The Circus in Winter, Ball State University
Dream Play, Bridgewater College
Flipside: The Patti Page Story, University of Central Oklahoma
The House of the Spirits, Florida International University
Master Harold and the Boys, University of Evansville
Re-membering Antigone, Long Island University- C.W. Post Campus
Six Characters, Iowa State University
The Unseen Hand, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy
Us, Western Washington University