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ISU Theatre students and faculty were honored for their work by the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. In total, 52 students and four faculty members represented Iowa State University at the festival, which was January 18 – 24 in the Twin Cities.

Student and faculty honors for 2014 ISU Theatre productions include:

• Doris Nash, ISU Theatre costume shop supervisor, for the costume design of A Christmas Carol
• Sara Jablon, doctoral candidate in Apparel, Merchandising and Design, for her costume design of Spring Awakening
• Rob Sunderman, associate professor of theatre, for his scenic design of Crimes of the Heart

In addition, costumes for Into the Woods by Kelly Schaefer, lecturer, were chosen to be featured as a part of the festival’s annual costume parade.

Student performances on the festival stages include:

• Christopher Priebe, senior in performing arts, and Alyssa Maldonado, junior in performing arts, were selected as finalists in the Irene Ryan Scholarship Acting Auditions. Priebe and Maldonado were among 16 final pairs to advance to the final round out of 315 who auditioned. Wes Ketcham, senior in performing arts, and Grace Chermak, junior in vocal music education, made it to the semi-final round.
• Kivan Kirk, senior in performing arts, directed a trio of ISU performing arts seniors (Meghan Berkland, Christopher Priebe and Wes Ketcham) to the final round of the stage directors and choreographers directing fellowship competition.
• An original one-act play by Taylor Sklenar, senior in performing arts, English, and chemistry, was awarded second place and will be considered for invitation to the national festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
• Mason Tyer, senior in performing arts, and Emmy Cuvelier, sophomore in performing arts, auditioned for and were cast in the festival’s Musical Theatre Cabaret Showcase.

ISU faculty members also served on the festival’s senior leadership team. Amanda Petefish-Schrag, assistant professor, coordinated the festival’s professional auditions. Brad Dell, assistant professor, is the vice-chair and incoming chair of Region V.

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival is a national organization sponsored by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The organization celebrates and encourages excellence in college and university theatre across the country. The Region V festival brings together approximately 1,500 students, faculty, and staff from colleges and universities in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.

ISU Theatre is an academic department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.