KCACTF Region 5 Festival 57: Full Schedule

Add sessions to your personal schedule to register your attendance (Check-In).

1:00pm CST

Festival Registration Set Up

Sunday January 19, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm CST

Marriott Coat Check (3rd Floor)

Festival Leadership

Jonathan Wehmeyer

Associate Registrar, Truman State University

Jim Wood

KCACTF National Committee Member at Large, South Dakota State University

Jim Wood currently serves on the KCACTF National Executive Committee as Member-at-Large. He also serves Region 5 as the Registrar and is a former Regional Chair. Jim is a Professor and the Artistic Director of Theatre & Dance at South Dakota State University. An actor, director, designer... Read More →

Sunday January 19, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm CST
Marriott Coat Check (3rd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, Information & Registration

Audience Participants Only

2:00pm CST

Costume Parade Drop Off

Sunday January 19, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm CST

Hoyt Sherman Place

Drop Off time for costumes for those participating in the Costume Parade

Festival Leadership

AP Pikiben

Cost. Parade Coordinator, Truman State University

AP is a professor at Truman State University. This is their second year as the Co-Coordinator for the Expo and first year as Costume Parade Coordinator. AP is excited for another year at their favorite festival!

Sunday January 19, 2025 2:00pm - 5:00pm CST
Hoyt Sherman Place 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314, USA

Festival Events, Costume Parade

Audience Participants Only
Area Design Technology & Management

3:00pm CST

Volunteer Meeting

Sunday January 19, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST

Marriott Sioux City (3rd Floor)

Orientation for all Volunteers

Festival Leadership

Emma Arends

Co Volunteer Coordinator, U of Minnesota Morris

Jacee Casarella

Co-Volunteer Coordinator, Augustana University

Jacee Casarella is an Assistant Teaching Professor, Resident Designer, and Technical Director at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. She is also the Co-Volunteer Coordinator for Region 5, VP of Social Media & Publications for USITT Northern Boundary, and Production Manager for... Read More →

Sunday January 19, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
Marriott Sioux City (3rd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, Volunteers

Audience Participants Only

5:00pm CST

Festival Launch Rehearsal

Sunday January 19, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST

Marriott Des Moines Exhibits Hall (3rd Floor)

(Closed Session)

Festival Leadership

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 →

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 →

Sunday January 19, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST
Marriott Des Moines Exhibits Hall (3rd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting

Audience Participants Only

9:30pm CST

10 Min Play/1 Act Orientation

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon B (2nd Floor)

Orientation for Playwrights, Directors, Faculty Mentors, Dramaturgs, and Stage Managers of the 10-Minute Plays and One Act Plays.

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 →

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon B (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, NPP

Audience Participants Only
Area Playwriting

9:30pm CST

ASPIRE Orientation

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor)

Orientation for ASPIRE Participants

Festival Leadership

Alex Pikiben

Aspire Coord, Truman State University

Alex is a Lecturer of Theatre in Lights/Sound from Truman State University. He is also a freelance Light/Sound Designer from Minneapolis, MN. His past credits include Hair at Premiere Playhouse, Ride the Cyclone at Truman State, and Audio mixer at the True/False Festival. He loves... Read More →

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting

Audience Participants Only
Area ASPIRE

9:30pm CST

Irene Ryan & MTI Prelim Respondent Orientation

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon F (2nd Floor)

Orientation for Irene Ryan Prelim Responders

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

Emily Wirkus

MTI Coordinator, University of North Dakota

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon F (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, Irene Ryans

Audience Participants Only

9:30pm CST

MTI Orientation

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon D (2nd Floor)

Orientation for MTI Singing and Dance Auditioners

Festival Leadership

Allison Holmes-Bendixen

MTI Singing Associate Coordinator, Kirkwood Community College

Allison Holmes-Bendixen (she/her) is an artist, educator, musical theatre lover, opera enthusiast, and self-described vocal pedagogy nerd. She is a member of the faculty at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA; where she teaches a variety of music and theatre courses.An... Read More →

Sheldon Mba

MTI Dance Assoc. Coord, Wichita State University

Emily Wirkus

MTI Coordinator, University of North Dakota

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon D (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, MTI

Audience Participants Only

9:30pm CST

Professional Auditions and Technical Interviews Call Back Sign Up

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon G (2nd Floor)

Festival Leadership

Joseph Urick

PA/TI Assoc Coord, Wichita State University

JOSEPH URICK is an award-winning actor based in Wichita, Kansas. He has performed Off-Broadway, nationally, and internationally at such theatres as the ZACH Scott, Texas Light Opera, and Theatre Soutwest in Texas; the Hippodrome and Florida Shakespeare; and the Papagaou Theatre and... Read More →

Billy Wilburn

Prof. Audition/Interview Coord., South Dakota State University

Billy is an Associate Professor of Theatre at South Dakota State University. He is also the Artistic Director of Prairie Repertory Theatre in Brookings, South Dakota, and serves as coordinator of Professional Auditions and Technical Interviews KCACTF 5. He earned his B.A. in Theatre... Read More →

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon G (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, PA/TI

Audience Participants Only

9:30pm CST

SDC Orientation

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon C (2nd Floor)

Orientation for all SDC participants

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 →

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon C (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, SDC

Audience Participants Only
Area Acting and Directing

9:30pm CST

Stage Management Orientation

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST

Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor)

Orientation for all Stage Management participants

Festival Leadership

Patrick Reading

Stage Management Coordinator, University of North Dakota

Patrick is currently the Technical Director and a Teaching Assistant Professor for the University of North Dakota Department of Theatre Arts. In addition to UND’s Technical Direction, he is the resident Sound Designer, supervisor of Stage Management and Properties and proudly acts... Read More →

Sunday January 19, 2025 9:30pm - 10:15pm CST
Marriott Salon E (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, Stage Management

Audience Participants Only
Area Design Technology & Management

7:30am CST

Irene Ryan Prelim Selector Meeting

Monday January 20, 2025 7:30am - 8:00am CST

Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor)

Irene Ryan Prelim Selector Orientation (closed meeting)

Festival Leadership

Erik Meixelsperger

Ryan Assoc. Coord, Drake University

Cara Phipps

Irene Ryan Coordinator, Graceland University

Heather Tinker

Irene Ryan Assoc. Coord, MidAmerica Nazarene U

Monday January 20, 2025 7:30am - 8:00am CST
Marriott Salon A (2nd Floor) 700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

Orientation/Meeting, Irene Ryans

Audience Participants Only

2:00pm CST

ITJA Session 1

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm CST

Marriott Sioux City (3rd Floor)

Participants must have access to the event, but others may observe. If observing please be respectful of the work.

Guest Artists

Michael Morain

dsm magazine

Michael Morain is the editor-in-chief of dsm magazine, which covers arts and culture in Des Moines. He reviewed theater for a decade for the Des Moines Register, co-founded the Cloris Awards for local theater, and is a two-time fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts Institute... Read More →

Festival Leadership