OU professor, students recognized at Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

The Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), which took place Jan. 7-11 at Madison College in Madison, Wisc., featured the work of several students from the Department of Theatre in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at Oakland University.

“Over the course of four days, 40 of our performance and design and production students showcased their talents in artistic competition, participated in workshops, and attended performances by their peers from around the region,” said David Gram, associate professor of theatre at OU. “Most importantly, they represented OU’s Department of Theatre, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance with pride professionalism, and Grizz spirit!”

Gram, the interim chair of the Department of Theatre, was also recognized during the festival and awarded the Faculty Recognition Award from the State of Michigan. The award is presented annually to honor a professor from each of the region’s states for their commitment and service to the KCACTF.

“This award recognizes a sense of service outside of our own institution, but more than that it recognizes the generosity of individuals who take time to travel, sometimes great distances, to enrich, encourage, and empower aspiring theatre artists through the state and region,” said Jeremy Barnett, associate professor of theatre at OU.

“This award is a testament to Professor Gram’s spirit of generosity and his commitment to students of the theatre, not only at Oakland University but to all students wherever he might reach them,” Barnett said. “It is also a testament to Professor Gram’s sense of collegiality and of the relationships he builds with faculty and colleagues across the state.”

In addition, several OU students were recognized at this year’s festival, including:

Design and Technology Competitive Projects:

• Trish Brown - Special Achievement in Puppetry; Recipient - The Thanksgiving Play

• Laine Hamburg - Special Achievement in Costume Design; High Concept Application - The Wiz

• Crystal Orser - Jay Duckworth Proptologist Award; Recipient - Caribbean Dreamin'

• Ash Ritter – RED (Representation, Equity and Diversity) in Lighting Design; Recognition of Excellence – Pipeline

• Ash Ritter - McGraw-Hill Award; Recognition in Design & Technology – Pipeline

• Jaci Taylor – Finalist, Costume Design for Caribbean Dreamin'

• Jaci Taylor – Finalist, Make-Up Design for Jesus Christ Superstar 

Irene Ryan Competition

• Dede Gibson-Phillips (w/partner Caylee Morgan) – Finalist

Musical Theatre Intensive (Vocal)

• Travis Wade – Finalist

• Mirabella Ziegler – Finalist

Musical Theatre Intensive (Dance)

• Aaliyah Flint – Finalist

• Emily Reschke – Finalist

• Matthew Sell – Finalist

“Last but not least, a big congratulations to Kerro Knox 3, Patrick Fitzgibbon, and the entire company of Caribbean Dreamin’, our Participating Production,” Gram said. “Not only were their performances fully attended, the show’s imaginative approach to devised playmaking through the lens of the stories and music of the Caribbean have inspired other young artists around the region to look at play creation in a new way.”

The KCACTF was started by The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in 1969 to encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work in university and college theatre programs; to provide opportunities to participants; to improve the quality of such theatre in the U.S., and to encourage productions of new plays, the classics revitalized or newly conceived and experimental works.

Region 3 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

For more information about the KCACTF, visit http://kcactf3.org.