KCACTF Region 5 Festival 57: Full Schedule

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12:00pm CST

SDC Performances

Friday January 24, 2025 12:00pm - 2:00pm CST

This event has limited capacity. When open add this event to your schedule to reserve your spot. If you no longer will attend please remove it from your schedule to allow those on the waitlist to join.

This event will open Thursday, 1/23 at 11:00 pm

Guest Artists

Chuma Gault

Freelance Artist

Chuma is an actor, producer and director. He is ad for FAT HAM by James Ijams (Dezart Performs); directed “ROBBIN, from the HOOD”, by Marlow Wyatt (Road Theatre). Chuma is directing in residency with two plays at the L.A. LGBTQ Center with playwrights Tony Abatemarco (The LOST... Read More →

Kelsey Mesa

Managing KCACTF and Theatre Education, Kennedy Center

Kelsey Mesa's (she/her/hers) directing credits include Crimes of the Heart at Catholic University, Fefu and Her Friends at the University of Maryland, College Park; The Pavilion, The Magi, and Wish List at the Hub Theatre; and Othello, Antigonick, She Rode Horses Like the Stock Exchange... Read More →

Festival Leadership

Jamie Bullins

SDC Coordinator, U of Nebraska Lincoln

Sarah Belfrage Honerman

Directing Assoc. Coord, Minot State University

Sarah Belfrage-Honerman is the Director of Theatre at Minot State University. Belfrage-Honerman grew up in the Midwest, originally from Sioux Falls, SD.Belfrage-Honerman is a veteran educator, with over a decade of experience in the classroom and working in the theatre. She has built... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 12:00pm - 2:00pm CST
Marriott Salon D&E (2nd Floor)

Performance, SDC

2:00pm CST

Irene Ryan Finals

Friday January 24, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm CST

Hoyt Sherman Place

Irene Ryan Scholarship Audition Final Round one monologue and one scene will be presented in 4 minutes.

Content Disclosure:

Because theatre reflects the human experience, some scripts and performances may raise issues, portray situations, use actions or language which you may find disturbing or offensive. You should understand that, in the spirit of free artistic expression, KCACTF does not censor dramatic works performed as part of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions. If you fear that you may be unduly offended or disturbed by materials presented in performance, please use your best discretion before watching the performances.

Guest Artists

Ashley DeMoville

R7 Co-Chair, Spokane Falls CC

Dr. Ashley DeMoville is an accomplished academic leader, director, and educator dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion in theater education. Currently the Interim Dean of Visual and Performing Arts at Spokane Falls Community College, she holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational... Read More →

CarlosAlexis Cruz

UNC Charlotte/Nouveau Sud

CarlosAlexis Cruz is the Producing Artistic Director of the Nouveau Sud Circus project; a circus for social change company in service of intercultural and cross cultural communications in the urban region of Charlotte, North Carolina.Cruz’s Nouveau Sud was awarded a NEFA National... Read More →

Correy West

Open Jar Representative, Open Jar Institute

Correy West was last seen on Broadway in Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. He made his Broadway debut in South Pacific at Lincoln Center. Subsequently, he performed in the Broadway production of Nice Work If You Can Get It at the Imperial Theatre alongside Matthew... Read More →

Karen Burthwright

Open Jar Institute

Karen is thrilled and honored to be back here with Region 5 at KCACTF this year. In 2018, 2020, (and virtually in 2022) Karen (AEA, SAG/AFTRA, CAEA, ACTRA) was a guest artist who taught musical theatre workshops, was the MTI choreographer/Open Jar representative, and judged and responded... Read More →

Festival Leadership

Erik Meixelsperger

Ryan Assoc. Coord, Drake University

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 →

Heather Tinker

Irene Ryan Assoc. Coord, MidAmerica Nazarene U

Ryans finals program pdf

Friday January 24, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm CST
Hoyt Sherman Place 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314, USA

Performance, Irene Ryans

2:00pm CST

10 Minute Play Reading and Response

Friday January 24, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm CST

Civic Center Stoner Theater

This event has limited capacity. Add this event to your schedule to reserve your spot. If you no longer will attend please remove it from your schedule to allow those on the waitlist to join.

Doors will open 30 minutes prior to curtain.

Join us for readings of this year's Region 5 winners of the Gary Garrison 10-Minute Play Award:

Guest Artists

Emma Busch

Playwrights' Center

Emma is a Twin Cities-based theater artist, dramaturg, and dreamer with an interest in archives, queer time, and place-making through a sociological lens. She recently was a part of TRACES, a site-specific show that performed across downtown Minneapolis. She has also made an artistic... Read More →

Hannah Joyce

Playwrights' Center

Hannah Joyce is the director of professional resources and education at Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis. From 2017 to 2022 she was also the producing artistic director of the William Inge Theater Festival in Kansas. Hannah has developed the new work of some the country’s finest... Read More →

Miguel Torres Cruz

R8 NPP Chair, CSU Fullerton

Miguel Torres Cruz is an actor, director, producer, and educator. He trained at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA), CSU Bakersfield (BA Theatre Arts), and CSU FULLERTON (MFA in Acting). He is a faculty member at CSU Fullerton, Chair of National Playwriting Program for the Kennedy... Read More →

Festival Leadership

Cat Gleason

NPP Co-Vice Chair, Truman State University

Cat Gleason teaches acting, directing, and stage movement, as well as theatre history and criticism. An award-winning teacher, she has received the Road Warrior and Innovative Teaching honors from The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival KCACTF5 as well as being honored... Read More →

Laura Gold

NPP Co-Vice Chair, Peru State College

Laura Gold (she/her) is the Associate Professor of Theatre at Peru State College. Recent Peru Theatre Company directing credits include Orphans, Love Song, Proof, and Everybody. She is especially proud of PTC's annual production The Disco Citizens—30 plays in 60 minutes, or your... Read More →

Aaron Scully

NPP Chair, U of Central Missouri

Aaron Scully, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Theatre at the University of Central Missouri. His plays have been produced around the country including Atlanta, Des Moines, Washington D.C., Seattle and Pittsburgh, PA. Most recently a production of his play "The Disappointments" toured... Read More →

10 minute plays program pdf

Friday January 24, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Civic Center Stoner Theater 221 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Performance, 10 Minute Plays

7:00pm CST

Student Choice Showcase and Awards

Friday January 24, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm CST

Hoyt Sherman Place

Several events this week students voted on their favorite act, song, monologue, design, etc. Come to the Showcase and see your choices on the Hoyt Sherman stage and don't forget to vote throughout the week. Look for the QR codes!

Content Disclosure:
Because theatre reflects the human experience, some scripts and performances may raise issues, portray situations, use actions or language which you may find disturbing or offensive. You should understand that, in the spirit of free artistic expression, KCACTF does not censor dramatic works performed as part of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions. If you fear that you may be unduly offended or disturbed by materials presented in performance, please use your best discretion before watching the performances.

Festival Leadership

Haidee Heaton

Region 5 Co-Vice Chair, Culver-Stockton College

Haidee Heaton is a Professor of Theatre at Culver-Stockton College where she serves as Associate Division Chair of Fine, Applied, and Literary Arts and Director of the Honors Scholars Program. Haidee teaches performance, directing, critical theory, and voice. Recent directing credits... Read More →

Deidre Mattox

Region 5 Co-Vice Chair, Hutchinson Community College

Deidre is the current Co-Vice-Chair of Region 5, having previously served as the Region 5 National Playwriting Programs Vice-Chair, Coordinator of the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy, and Co-Coordinator of Dramaturgy. Deidre is also a recipient of the Region 5 Road Warrior... Read More →

Emily Cherry Oliver

Region 5 Co-Chair, University of North Dakota

Emily Cherry Oliver is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of North Dakota, as well as the Co-Director of the UND AI and Human Innovation Initiative. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and an MFA in Directing, seamlessly integrating both disciplines... Read More →

Rusty W Ruth

Inv. Scene/Stdnt Choice Coord, Wayne State College

Lindsey Duoos Williams

Region 5 Co-Chair, Rochester Civic Theatre

Lindsey Duoos Williams is the Artistic Director at Rochester Civic Theatre in Rochester, Minnesota. For thirteen years, she served as the Theatre Director at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minnesota, where she created the state’s only AFA in Musical Theatre degree program... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm CST
Hoyt Sherman Place 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314, USA

Performance, Student Choice Showcase