Emersonians Excel at Kennedy Center Theater Festival
by Rafael Jaen
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 1 took place last week from January 24th to January 28th and Fitchburg State University was the host site.
Emmy-winning reporter Jared Bowen an Emerson alumnus (’98), gave an exciting keynote address on the state of the arts in Boston.
Participating Emerson students endured a rigorous week and they received the following accolades:
- Shanna Allison, National KCACTF Fellowship for Excellence in Stage Management, Show: She Loves Me, Emerson College – She receives a full paid scholarship to attend the national conference in Washington DC in April
- Tierra Bonser, LMDA/KCACTF National Award for Excellence in Dramaturgy, Show: The Golden Age, Emerson College – She receives a full paid scholarship to attend the national conference in Washington DC in April
- Alyssa Dillon, Regional KCACTF Award for Allied Design and Technologies, First Place, Show: Man of La Mancha, Emerson College
- Alyssa Dillon, USITT New England Tech/Innovation & Craftsmanship, Show: Man of La Mancha, Emerson College – She also received a year membership in the USITT NE Chapter and a voucher for specialty books
- Juliana Gregori, National KCACTF Award for Excellence in Costume Design, Show: Cloud Nine, Emerson College – She receives a full paid scholarship to attend the national conference in Washington DC in April
- Kirk Miller, National KCACTF Award For Excellence in Lighting Design, Show: Robin Hood, Emerson College –He receives a full paid scholarship to attend the national conference in Washington DC in April
- Erik Skovgaard, National KCACTF Award for Excellence in Sound Design, Honorable Mention (2nd Place), Show: The Hallway Plays, Emerson College – He also received a 2nd Edition copy of the book Sound Systems: Design and Optimization by industry leader Bob McCarthy
Students were evaluated on presentation skills, design ideas, innovation, drafting/rendering skills, layout and use of current digital software. Respondents included working professional from Cirque Du Soleil, USA 829, USITT, Actors Equity, Stage Craft Institute Las Vegas, and S.P.A.M.
Faculty member Debra Acquavella presented an innovative and specialized workshop for stage management students; called Calling Cues for Musicals.
Faculty member Rafael Jaen received two honors. He received the Kennedy Center ACTF Region 1 Recognition Award For Outstanding Service in Design, Technology and Management — Jaen served as DTM Co-Chair for six years. Second, the publishing company FOCAL Press announced the Focal Press/Rafael Jaen SHOW CASE Award for Excellence in Theater Design Technologies. Stacey Walker Associate Acquisitions Editor, Theatre/ Live Entertainment, said: “Rafael Jaen has been an author with us for 6 years, and it’s been a wonderful partnership. Rafael is a leader in the DTM field and has a truly remarkable portfolio. In fact, he literally wrote the book on portfolio design and management. He introduced us to KCACTF and it’s always been a highlight of our year to come here and support this wonderful festival. Rafael and his new book Show Case embody exactly what Focal Press and KCACTF stand for. Excellence. Passion. Putting your best foot forward. Substance. And innovation. That’s why we’ve teamed together with Rafael to create the Focal Press Rafael Jaen Excellence Award, to be presented to outstanding DTM student practitioners.” The award gives students credit to purchase books to further their education in the design-tech fields.
Region I of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival has traditionally involved institutions from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Eastern New York.
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Rafael Jaen is the Costume Design Advisor/Costume Designer in the Department of Performing Arts at Emerson College.