FAQ for First-timers
If you're considering participating in KCACTF for the first time
- or if you've been away for awhile - here are the answers to our
most frequently asked questions!
Q. Why should I participate?
A. KCACTF focuses on the art of production: acting, directing, design,
playwriting, criticism. The Kennedy Center American College Theatre
Festival is the largest organization of its kind dedicated to encouraging,
recognizing and celebrating the finest and most diverse work produced
in university and college theater programs. KCACTF is student-centered.
Students from programs large and small, private and public , meet
for five days each year to view touring productions selected from
among the best in the region, participate in a variety of workshops,
compete for scholarships and other professional opportunities in
a variety of categories - and have their talents and skills tested
against a much broader sample of student work than is available
in any single institution. Distinguished professionals critique
work brought to the festival site. KCACTF provides faculty with
a host of opportunities for professional development and networking.
Q. How do I enter?
A. The process begins by entering one or more of your institution's
productions in the festival. Registration forms can be found at
the national website.
Q. What happens once I register?
A. Registration makes faculty and students from your institution
eligible to participate in all aspects of KCACTF, including design,
playwriting, critics' competitions, and award programs . Irene Ryan
Acting Scholarship Audition nominees may be named from each entered
production.
Q. What is the difference between an associate entry and a participating
one?
A. In both cases, a faculty colleague will attend a performance
of your entered production at your theatre and conduct a response
session with your company following the performance. The director
will be provided with a written response to the work, a copy of
which will be forwarded to the regional chair. The response may
be accompanied by nominations for awards, including the Irene Ryan
Acting Scholarship Auditions. A participating production (entry
fee $250 per production) is one which the home institution is interested
in having considered for tour to the regional festival. Two members
of the regional Executive Committee will conduct the on-site response
session and will take their observations to the Regional Selection
Team Meeting which is held during the first week of December. A
National Selection Team visits all 8 regional festivals and selects
a slate of plays from regional offerings to be presented at the
Kennedy Center in April. An associate production (entry fee $200)
is not eligible for tour to the festival, though the institution
is eligible for all other awards. One member of the regional faculty
will conduct the on-site response session.
Q, What happens if my production is selected for inclusion in the
regional festival?
A. If selected, the production must be designed to tour to the festival
site during the designated time frame. A set-up time of four hours
is allotted, with a one-hour strike immediately following the performance.
The home school bears all costs of touring at the regional level.
Q. What if my production is selected for inclusion in the National
Festival at the Kennedy Center in April?
A. The good news is that the Kennedy Center bears the cost of the
tour (up to a company of 25). The production must remain substantially
the same, and, of course, must be able to tour in April.
Q. What if my Irene Ryan Audition is selected for the final round
of the Scholarship Auditions? Do I need to pay royalties?
A. You can find more information regarding royalties here.
Q. How can I become personally involved at the regional level?
A. Contact your Regional co-Chairs: Tom Mitchell or Sandi Zielinski and express your interest. Our greatest need is for
qualified and willing respondents for associate entries in the region.
Respondent training sessions are available each year at the regional
festival, and occasionally within your home state. Contact your
state chair for information on this option. Encourage students in
your program to enter design work and new scripts in the design
and playwriting competitions. Make students aware of the Critics'
Institute. For contact information for the chairs of these programs,
see the Executive Committee roster links on this website.
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