UCF students, professor invited to prestigious theatre festival

For yet another successive year, UCF will be taking part in the Region IV presentation of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Hosted by Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Fla. and taking place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, the 44th installment of the festival will feature productions and participants from UCF, Kennesaw State University, Florida International University, University of North Alabama, Middle Tennessee State University and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

UCF professor Julia Listengarten's production of Gem of the Ocean, a play written by August Wilson dramatizing African American life in the 20th century, will be presented at the festival.

"I think it's very exciting and humbling at the same time, representing your school and being seen by a lot of other schools," said Listengarten, who also had her production of Marisol nominated by the festival in 2009. "We're very excited to be representing our school, especially with August Wilson's play. August Wilson is an amazing playwright of the early 21st century, so to perform his show is a huge honor."

UCF, along with the other colleges listed, was invited to the festival after being recommended by festival respondents that sat in on their productions. The recommendations were then passed on to the selection committee for the festival, who then gave the schools their official nominations.

"It's an opportunity for colleges to get another set of eyes on their production," said Gregg Henry, co-manager and artistic director of the festival. "It's healthy to get feedback from the outside."

In addition to experience and exposure for everyone involved, the festival also has several awards up for grabs in different categories, including outstanding direction of a play, a musical; outstanding choreography; and outstanding performances by an actress or actor in leading and supporting roles.

Representatives of each winning production, along with individual award winning actors and actresses, will then move on to the national level of the festival held in Washington D.C. on April 16 through 21. The expense-paid trip will take the winners to the John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, where there will be an award ceremony and opportunities such as scholarship eligibility and master classes.

"It's really important for the students to get this kind of regional and national exposure," Listengarten said. "They get to see other theaters and show their own talent, so I think it's a wonderful opportunity."

Having been nominated for the festival for seven out of the last nine years, UCF has earned a reputation for excellence with its theater program and has made its mark in the southeast region of the United States in college theater.

"UCF is one of the leading programs in the region; they're widely respected," Henry said. "UCF helps keep the bar high in the region. They bring a sense of professionalism and passion that's exemplary to other programs."

The UCF students performing at the festival also recognize the reputation their school as built in theater.

"It's really an honor to represent the whole campus and showcase the theater up there," said Bryant Hernandez, a junior at UCF majoring in acting who is nominated for an award in both playwriting and acting. "It's great to bring Orlando up and bring the University of Central Florida into the realm of the other colleges."

Terrance Jackson, another junior at UCF majoring in acting, also sees the festival as a way to build on UCF's reputation.

"UCF has such a good name in the festival," said Jackson, who is nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, a scholarship affiliated with the festival, for his performance in Gem of the Ocean. "I'm excited to do good work for the university and the department."

Though the festival brings an atmosphere of friendly competition, Henry stressed the noncompetitive nature of the festival, stating that the main objective of the gathering is to "celebrate student achievement" and invoke a sense of community among peers.

"It's about cheering on their desire to be an artist in this day and age," Henry said. "There's something fantastic about being in the crowd and hearing 1,200 theater people cheer each other on."

For more information on the 44th Annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, visit www.kcactf.org.