Student Wins Major Awards at American College Theatre Festival

Madison, Wis. (February 18, 2016) – Mark Kennedy, a senior Theatre Arts major from Saint Paul, Minn., was honored with three awards from the 2016 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) for his work on Woods of  Weaver specialty props. Mark won the Society of Properties Artisan Managers Award for Craft Excellence at ACTF Region III, the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Award, and the Regional Allied Design and Technology Award. As a result, Mark is attending the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas for one week of intensive study with some of the country’s best prop masters.

Each year the Theatre Arts Department sends students to present at this conference in all areas of theatre, including acting, stage management, sound design, props, and costumes. This year Leigha Sander, Stacey Garbarski, Shelly Sarauer, Clarice Lafayette, and Sara Wojtak competed in the nationally recognized Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Emily Swanson was cast in the New Play Festival, having been selected from a group of 100 other participants. BJ Ford competed in the Tech Olympics and Tessa Lake did hand drawings for a regional props poster.

Assistant Professor Christopher Dunham was Mark Kennedy’s mentor for the building of the props, while Adjunct Instructor Audrey Wax served as the festival group organizer, acting coach, and presentation coach.