KCACTF
UP Theater participates yearly in the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). The regional festival is Mid-February and all theater majors are encouraged to participate with entrance fee and transportation paid for through a generous donation by alum Kunal Nayyar. All theatrical productions are entered to be evaluated by peers within the region. Student actors, designers, directors, and production managers are selected to present their work in the regional KCACTF gatherings where leaders are chosen to participate at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The theater program has been fortunate to have leaders on both the regional and national level, highlighting the strength and training of our students.
KCACTF RESPONDENTS
The main stage shows at the University of Portland receive at least one oral response from a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival respondent. These respondents are usually professional artists and/or faculty members from other participating colleges and universities. Theater majors and minors are invited to hear the respondent after the designated show. These responses last about an hour after a performance and is a forum for a critique of all our work and is an opportunity to get an outside opinion from an educated audience member. Generously accept the respondent’s feedback. Taking notes is encouraged. Remember that our production has been a joint effort, so support your fellow artists when they receive criticism. Try to listen and accept the response without making excuses. Feel free to ask the respondent questions. If you have further questions after the response, you can follow up with a faculty member. Performers should check with the director before making any changes to a performance based on the respondent feedback.
CONFERENCE
Each year our region holds a week-long conference at a member institution in our North West Region VII. Students who wish to participate MUST show their work and/or audition piece at the showcase in January or make arrangements for a private response/audition session with their mentor as qualification to participate at the festival. It is our goal to include as many of our students in this event as possible. Students who have received an Irene Ryan nomination or are entering a tech or design event attend these conferences to participate in the hopes of being sent on to the National KCACTF conference at the Kennedy Center in April. The theater program gives funding to the students to help pay for a portion of the cost of this event.
It is an honor and a privilege to attend and participate. Anyone engaging in behavior that is unacceptable to the host hotel, host school and the faculty will be sent home immediately.
INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPATION
All Information about participation in the regional competitions in Acting, Design, Playwriting and Directing can be found on the National Website at: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/pre-professional-artist-training/kcactf/, and our regional website: https://www.kcactf7.org