KCACTF Region 5 Festival 57 has ended

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KCACTF Region 5 Festival 57

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9:30am CST

Acting Through Musical Song

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST

Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor)

Program Representative and Teaching Artist, Rachel Kelsey, draws upon her professional performance experience to bring you this workshop on acting through musical song. The intention of this session is to assist performers in improving their understanding of musical theatre acting. Here we will work on crafting strong, professional, and creative choices when acting through musical text. Actors should have a 32 bar cut or full song prepared to workshop in this setting, in which Rachel will workshop with the student and provide feedback. We will create tactics, analyze the subtext & tone, clarify objective, and apply/utilize particularizations. The session is taught from the lens and personal experience of Rachel Kelsey as both an instructor and performer. The workshop is open to actors at all levels in their educational career. We are thrilled to bring KCACTF a taste!

Presenters

Rachel Kelsey

NTI Program Representative and Admissions Manager, National Theatre Institute

I understand and acknowledge that I teach these workshops through the lens of my own background, culture, and experience. It is neither my goal nor my desire to foist my lens upon students, but to facilitate an understanding and skill set when approaching these works that enhances... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST
Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing, Musical Theatre and/or Voice

9:30am CST

From the Beginning

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST

Renaissance Savery Capitol

This workshop is for anyone interested in what it means to begin. In our time together, we will explore what it means to conceive of a creative project, how we can get past our inner critic to create from a space of curiosity, and offer observations on the work of our peers to foster ideas rather than critique them. This workshop will combine writing, performance, and directing as well as leave space for engagement with the work presented.

Presenters

Cara Phipps

Irene Ryan Coordinator, Graceland University

Cara is a queer director, educator, and writer based in Saint Paul, MN and Lamoni, IA. She recently directed the world premiere musical, THROUGH THE SUNKEN LANDS, by Avi Amon and Tim J. Lord for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Cara's national work includes credits with... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am CST
Renaissance Savery Capitol 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing, Playwriting

9:30am CST

Driving the Action: Active Analysis for Creative Artists

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 12:00pm CST

Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Stanislavsky’s latter practice known today as Active Analysis is a powerful tool for quickly integrating the givens of a script into an actor’s body. Learning the tool can be anxiety-inducing for beginning actors as they don’t have the script in hand as a crutch. This workshop introduces the concepts of action & counteraction as the driving force of a scene. Then we'll explore the scaffolding techniques I’ve developed to prop the students up while they explore the freedoms that Active Analysis offers, curtailing anxiety and streamlining the embodiment of the role.

Presenters

Joelle Arp Dunham

Kansas State University

Joelle Ré Arp-Dunham, PhD, MFA, (she/her) is an educator, director, actor, consent and staged intimacy consultant and choreographer, currently teaching at Kansas State University. She served as the Producing Artistic Director of the Circle Ensemble Theatre Company in Athens, Georgia... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 9:30am - 12:00pm CST
Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Area Acting and Directing, Faculty Development, Playwriting, Representation Equity and Diversity

11:00am CST

"Do it again, with an Irish accent": learning dialects!

Tuesday January 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST

Renaissance Savery Truman

Maybe you're preparing for an audition, or you've already got the part, or you've been called back and they said "let's hear it with [fill in the blank] accent next time." Now what? We'll walk through the steps of adopting a dialect -- and the right one for the role -- using a process adaptable to any language/dialect/situation, from "I need it tomorrow" to "I've got months to get it right."

Presenters

Laurel Koerner

Dordt University

Laurel Alons Koerner (MFA Acting, CalArts; MA Bowling Green State University) is a theatre artist-educator specializing in acting and directing. In addition to teaching, directing, and designing for productions at Dordt University, she coaches professional actors in preparing dialects... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST
Renaissance Savery Truman 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing

11:00am CST

Unmasking Ourselves through Neutral Mask

Tuesday January 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST

Renaissance Savery Iowa Ballroom

This workshop will introduce Neutral Mask techniques and will run the actor through a variety of exercises that will strengthen their stage presence and their physical choices. The neutral mask is an incredibly powerful tool in teaching acting craft, particularly movement and being truly present in and experiencing each moment as an actor. This allows the actor to be more open and let the world around them inform their movement. As Jacques Lecoq, the originator of Neutral Mask training, wrote, “There are three masks: the one we think we are, the one we really are, and the one we have in common.” The goal of this workshop is to give you tools that will help you as an actor remove the masks that you have built up and allow you to find a new truth and vulnerability in your physical performance onstage.

Presenters

Lindsay Kennedy

Benedictine College

Lindsay Kennedy is a playwright, performer, dramaturg, and director. She has been honored nationally for her work as a playwright—her plays, River Like Sin and Rattler were semi-finalists for the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference and her in-development musical Like Cinders... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm CST
Renaissance Savery Iowa Ballroom 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Area Acting and Directing

12:30pm CST

Creative Dramatics: Fun was had last year let's do it again!

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST

Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor)

Put on your fun hat and spend some time with other students from the region in this experiential, hands-on romp through a series of creative dramatic exercises and games. Promised to take you places you can only imagine! You'll be on your feet (unless you aren't) moving around (dress comfortably) as you create something out of nothing (well, OK, a short prompt or suggestion). Bring a friend, meet new friends, it's FESTIVAL!!

Presenters

Andy Henrickson

Mount Marty University

Andy is the Director of Theatre at Mount Marty University in Yankton, SD, a Catholic Benedictine liberal arts institution where hospitality is a core value. Prior to his tenure at MMU, Andy had a short stint directing for the Olde Towne Dinner Theatre (Worthing, SD), and 10 years... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST
Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Area Acting and Directing

12:30pm CST

The International Phonetic Alphabet: Your Gateway to Pronunciation and Dialect Work

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST

Marriott Dubuque (3rd Floor)

This workshop will serve as an introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Participants will learn the basic IPA symbols most useful to a performer. These will then be applied to both a Standard American Dialect and a Standard English Dialect.

Presenters

Matthew Caron

Invited Scenes Assoc Coord, Minnesota State U Mankato

Matthew Caron serves as Managing Director of the Theatre Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to teaching courses in theatre speech, dialects, management, history and directing, he directs productions for the department as well. Prior to his current position... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST
Marriott Dubuque (3rd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing

12:30pm CST

What's Your Status

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST

Renaissance Savery Capitol

In a production, the status you are given is not always what is earned. As actors, it is imperative to begin with an analysis of character. Who are you? Who is above you? Who is below you? What does that mean in terms of your relationships with the characters around you? This workshop is designed to understand what we mean when we talk about status, how to both demonstrate and observe it, and how to put that into practice onstage through a series of interactive exercises and active observation.

Presenters

Cara Phipps

Irene Ryan Coordinator, Graceland University

Cara is a queer director, educator, and writer based in Saint Paul, MN and Lamoni, IA. She recently directed the world premiere musical, THROUGH THE SUNKEN LANDS, by Avi Amon and Tim J. Lord for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Cara's national work includes credits with... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm CST
Renaissance Savery Capitol 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing, Talking about Theatre

12:30pm CST

Mastering the Art of Film and TV Auditioning

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 3:00pm CST

Marriott Salon B (2nd Floor)

Elevate your audition game with this hands-on workshop designed to help actors excel in film and TV auditions. Participants will work with real sides from actual productions, learning techniques to deliver memorable performances that make a lasting impression. This workshop will focus on essential skills such as breaking down sides, understanding character motivation, adapting to direction, and creating authentic, engaging auditions that stand out. Whether you're a seasoned actor or just starting your journey, this experience will provide the tools and confidence to shine in front of casting directors.

Presenters

Darrell Bailey

University of Missouri

Darrell Bailey is a Stage and Film Actor, Artist, Director, and Instructor from Kansas City, Missouri. He trained in Los Angeles at the New York Film Academy to obtain his Master of Fine Arts in Acting for Film.

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 3:00pm CST
Marriott Salon B (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing

12:30pm CST

Principles of Greek Tragedy

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 3:00pm CST

Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

This interactive workshop explores the basic principles of Greek tragic performance that make it challenging for modern actors and directors. Participants will be led through exercises that develop skills necessary for approaching the content and form of Greek Tragedy with a focus on vocal presence, expressive gesture, spatial relationship, and the function of Chorus. Participants will be asked to come prepared with a memorized text.

Presenters

Nathan Bowman

Assistant Professor, Chair/ Producing Artistic Director, Benedictine/KC Public Theatre

Nathan Bowman is Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Benedictine College and the Producing Artistic Director of Kansas City Public Theatre. He is the Vice-President of Mid-America Theatre Conference where he previously served as Co-Chair of Playwriting and he is the Book... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:30pm - 3:00pm CST
Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing

2:00pm CST

Audition Techniques

Tuesday January 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST

Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor)

Program Representative and Teaching Artist, Rachel Kelsey, draws upon her professional audition experience to bring you this workshop. The intention of this session is to assist performers in improving their audition technique and specificity for both self-taped as well as in-person auditions. Here we will work on crafting strong, professional, and creative auditions experiences. Actors should have a 32 bar cut or 1-2 minute monologue prepared to workshop in a mock audition setting. During the workshop, participants will perform, work with Rachel, and have the opportunity to apply adjustments. The session is taught from the lens and personal experience of Rachel Kelsey as she has been in the room with individuals such as Alison Franck (Casting Director), Jeff Whiting (NYC Director/Choreographer), Kristian Charbonier (Casting Director), Sue Frost (Broadway Producer), etc. The workshop is open to actors at all levels in their educational career. We are thrilled to bring KCACTF Region 5 a taste of the current audition climate!

Presenters

Rachel Kelsey

NTI Program Representative and Admissions Manager, National Theatre Institute

I understand and acknowledge that I teach these workshops through the lens of my own background, culture, and experience. It is neither my goal nor my desire to foist my lens upon students, but to facilitate an understanding and skill set when approaching these works that enhances... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST
Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Musical Theatre and/or Voice, Acting and Directing

2:00pm CST

Hand to Hand Combat: The basics of fighting on stage

Tuesday January 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST

Marriott Waterloo (3rd Floor)

This workshop will provide an introduction and exploration of the technical and aesthetic aspects of stage combat. Goals include developing the ability to safely portray violence onstage within the context of a play. Students will learn awareness of space, strikes, pushes and falls.

Presenters

Iris D. Dodge

U of Northwestern St Paul

IRIS DODGE received her Theatrical training from University of Wisconsin River Falls and holds an MFA in Theatre-Stage Management from Yale University. As an Equity Stage Manager she has spent most of her theatrical career on the east coast working in Broadway and Off-Broadway Theatre... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST
Marriott Waterloo (3rd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing, Stage Movement and Combat

3:30pm CST

"Do it again, with an Irish accent": learning dialects!

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST

Renaissance Savery Truman

Maybe you're preparing for an audition, or you've already got the part, or you've been called back and they said "let's hear it with [fill in the blank] accent next time." Now what? We'll walk through the steps of adopting a dialect -- and the right one for the role -- using a process adaptable to any language/dialect/situation, from "I need it tomorrow" to "I've got months to get it right."

Presenters

Laurel Koerner

Dordt University

Laurel Alons Koerner (MFA Acting, CalArts; MA Bowling Green State University) is a theatre artist-educator specializing in acting and directing. In addition to teaching, directing, and designing for productions at Dordt University, she coaches professional actors in preparing dialects... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST
Renaissance Savery Truman 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Audience Students Only
Area Acting and Directing

3:30pm CST

Droznin Russian Movement

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST

Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor)

Program Representative and Teaching Artist, Rachel Kelsey, draws upon teaching techniques of NTI master teacher and Artistic Director, Rachel Jett to bring you this workshop. Droznin is a Russian movement style that originated at the Moscow Art Theater in Russia by Andrei Droznin. The goal of this work is to forge/identify a connection between body and mind as well as body and soul. That way, when an individual feels something, their instinctual response will be to express themselves. Additionally, Droznin has described his method as "living movement" - stage movement that blurs the boundaries between dance, mime, and vernacular gesture. This, in turn, allows the audience to identify with performances in additional depth. Rachel Jett is the first American teacher of Droznin, as she studied directly under his guidance in Moscow, and we are thrilled to bring KCACTF Region 5 a taste!

Presenters

Rachel Kelsey

NTI Program Representative and Admissions Manager, National Theatre Institute

I understand and acknowledge that I teach these workshops through the lens of my own background, culture, and experience. It is neither my goal nor my desire to foist my lens upon students, but to facilitate an understanding and skill set when approaching these works that enhances... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST
Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Area Acting and Directing, Stage Movement and Combat, Musical Theatre and/or Voice

3:30pm CST

Provoking the Text: Staging Unconventional Performance Pieces

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST

Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Learn and experiment with the process of “provoking” a text—an active process of collaboratively unlocking the storytelling and performance potential of unusual, unconventional, or non-standard scripts. Great for developing new work, staging personal narrative, activating adaptations, or bringing classical or translated works to life, this hands-on workshop will offer techniques useful to directors, actors, playwrights, dramaturgs, and designers.

Presenters

Jayna Gearhart Fitzsimmons

Augustana University

Drs. Jayna Gearhart Fitzsimmons (theatre) and Richard W. Swanson (classics, religion, and philosophy) teach at Augustana University and have developed an interdisciplinary approach to developing and collaboratively staging new work. Together, Jayna (director and dramaturg) and Richard... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST
Marriott Council Bluffs/Davenport (3rd Floor)

Area Acting and Directing, Playwriting

3:30pm CST

The Director and the Dramaturg in Community: How to enhance the quality of your theatre production

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST

Marriott Salon G (2nd Floor)

Directors and Dramaturgs: What does a successful union look like to you?
Directors: How can you utilize your Dramaturgs more effectively?
Dramaturgs: How can you introduce your research as an aid for the Director?
This workshop will be an inside look into a successful Director/Dramaturg collaboration: How the Dramaturg's work can feed into the Director's vision, preparation and process, and how the Director can highlight the Dramaturgs work throughout the production and performance process.

Presenters

Jennifer Hunter

U of Northwestern St Paul

Jennifer Hunter is the Artistic Director and Professor of Theatre at the University of Northwestern St Paul. (MFA, Baylor University 2000). She was a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, (NY ’09), Directors Lab North, (Toronto’11), Juilliard Directing Fellow (NY ’12... Read More →

Tuesday January 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:45pm CST
Marriott Salon G (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Area Acting and Directing, Playwriting