Northwestern students excel at regional theatre festival

Northwestern College senior Abigail Stoscher, Modesto, Calif., received first place in a theatre criticism competition hosted by the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy at the Region Five Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Des Moines Jan. 22–28. Stoscher was among several NWC theatre students recognized at the annual event that includes undergraduate and graduate students from six Midwestern states.

During the festival, Stoscher wrote a theatre preview for KCACTF production “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” an opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, and a critique of Shakespeare’s “Othello.” Named the KCACTF Region Five first-place winner, Stoscher is one of eight regional winners—four of whom will be evaluated for invitation to the national festival, held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in April.

If Stoscher is selected for the national KCACTF, she will compete for the opportunity to study at the prestigious National Critics Institute at the O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Conn., this summer. Northwestern theatre alum Shelby Vander Molen won the O’Neill Scholarship in 2013.

Stoscher and Northwestern senior Julia VanDyk, Ames, Iowa, also received honorable mention for their sound design for the college’s production of “Rabbit Hole” last April.

In addition, junior Warren Duncan, Urbandale, Iowa, who had a lead role in “Rabbit Hole,” advanced to the semifinal pool of the Irene Ryan Acting competition. Duncan was one of 66 actors in the semifinal round from an initial round of 325 actors. Duncan’s scene partner was senior Amanda Hays, Chicago, who also had a lead role in “Rabbit Hole.”

Nineteen Northwestern theatre students attended this year’s regional KCACTF to compete and attend theatre arts workshops.