Throughout the past 25 years, Sinclair Community College Theatre students have attended the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
According to Patti Celek, publicity specialist for the Theatre and Dance Department, nearly 1200 students attend the KCACTF and this year two Sinclair students have came home with winnings in their back pockets.
Olivia Ciupak won for costume design in Frog and Toad and Joe Kelzer won for lighting design in The Bacchae of Euripides: A Communion Rite.
Both students competed in the technology portion of the competitions. They were required to put together a design concept from a script and present it in front a panel of judges.
“Putting all the things they’ve learned into a presentation, that would be like a job interview,” Celek said. “That experience, in itself, whether you win or lose, is very beneficial— You’re prepared for just about anything. Then you get there and the professionals who are respondents to your work are all professionals in the field, so you’re networking.”
Attendees had the opportunity to compete for scholarships at the festival. However, scholarships were only available for those competing in the acting portion.
Ten Sinclair students participated in the acting portion. They were required to choose a scene partner and prepare two scenes, as well as prepare a monologue.
Celek said over 300 pairs competed this year for the Irene Ryan acting scholarship, including Sinclair students, Josh Smith and Samantha Creech, Cydnie Hampton and Patrick Hayes, Kevin Erman and Sydney Back, Becca Sebree and Katie Beyoglides as well as John Dunn and Katie Paeg.
“It’s pretty cool, some of the things you get to see,” she said.
During the KCACTF, attendees could participate in workshops, watch various theatre productions, symposia and competitions at a regional level. Some students also had the opportunity to win at the regional level, then compete at the national level in April.
“The experience of doing it, it’s a pretty intense project,” Celek said.