MESA, Arizona -- February 22, 2017 – Mesa Community College was host to over 2,000 attendees at this year’s Region VIII Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), Feb. 14 through 18.
More than 100 MCC Theatre & Film Arts and Music students competed alongside 1,300 additional participants from Region VIII colleges. The festival recognized and celebrated the finest and most diverse work produced by university and college theatre programs in KCACTF Region VIII states: Arizona, Central and Southern California, Hawaii, Southern Nevada and Utah. A record 71 colleges and universities participated in this year’s festival, eight competing for the first time.
Dakota Erickson won the Sound Design competition for his design for "Good ‘N’ Plenty," and will represent MCC at the KCACTF National Conference in Washington, D.C. in April.
Two MCC Theatre students placed second in Allied Crafts for their work on MCC’s production of "All in the Timing," Dolores Mendoza for her Props Design and Set Dressings and Angela Salazar for Set Design. Salazar was one of 20 selected for a one-on-one interview with the stage manager judge for her work on MCC’s production of Good ‘N’ Plenty.
Raijene Ayme Rodriguez, Dakota Erickson and Andrew Blahak performed in the Devised Theatre Performance.
The talent of MCC Theatre and Film Arts Department students was acknowledged with an invitation to perform a scene from the MCC Fall 2016 production of "Good 'N' Plenty" during the festival’s Evening of Invited Scenes.
In addition, during the festival actors from the MCC theatre and music programs auditioned for acting conservatories and professional theatre companies.
Two MCC teams -- Dolores Mendoza and Kamesha Starkey; and Diane Grief and Kinsey Poetter -- were semi-finalists in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition.
MCC students also received recognition in several Musical Theatre Initiative Cabaret categories:
- Singers: Rio Chavez, Katie Hudnall, Brianna McClure and Mario Yniguez
- Dancers: Danielle Grief, Katie Hudnall, Josh Jensen, Brianna McClure and Rachel Stilchen
- Official Festival Accompanist: Jenn Crandall, MCC staff
MCC’s "All in the Timing" set design students Laurence Lilagan, Angela Salazar and Dolores Mendoza won the Don Childs Memorial Scholarship Award for demonstrated of collaboration and exceptional talent in theatre design. Each received a scholarship to the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas.
MCC Performing Arts coordinators Christopher Tubilewicz and Alex Keen coordinated the 240 events during the five-day event, which was hosted primarily in the college’s two major performance facilities - the MCC Theatre and the Performing Arts Center -- and the college's state-of-the-art recording studio.
Cirque do Soleil conducted 43 technical and design theatre workshops in lighting, sound, makeup, costuming, projection, rigging, automation and stage management during the festival.
Competing MCC students are coached by college faculty and staff who specialize in their field: Kevin Dressler, performance faculty; Kara Thomson, scenic design faculty; Adriana Diaz, costume design faculty, Chris Tubilewicz, technical director/production manager; Stephanie Salem, assistant technical director/scene shop supervisor; Jeff Parulski, lighting and sound supervisor; Cathy Hauan, music faculty; Jennifer Crandall, accompanist; and Alex Keen, technical director/production manager.
The community is invited to view the work of these inspiring artists and others at at upcoming performances on campus this spring. Please visit mesacc.edu/arts to find a performance or event best suiting your passions, interests and schedule.
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Media Contact
Dawn Zimmer, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu, 480-461-7892
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for service-learning, career and technical programs, civic engagement and innovative approaches to education. The college serves as a resource for career readiness, transfer education, workforce development and lifelong learning. Host to 30,000 students annually, MCC offers more than 195 degree and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. MCC is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution with a diverse student body that enriches the learning experience. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success, providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to compete locally and globally. MCC, located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the 10 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information, visit mesacc.edu.
Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA) http://www.ncahlc.org
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.