Rio Hondo Theater students were invited to compete in the Region 8 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) in Mesa, Ariz. from Feb. 11-15. The 5-day KCACTF regional conference was held at Mesa Community College, where students from Arizona, Central and Southern California, Hawaii, Southern Nevada, Utah, and Guam competed in various areas of theater, like performance, design, directing, and others.
Theater Professor, Matt Schleicher, accompanied and advised the RHC students. He shared that he believes the students benefit more than just competing at KCACTF. “I would say it is not a competition, but more of an audition for scholarship opportunities. A conference where we are gathering and appreciating each other’s work,” said Schleicher.
Among the students from RHC were, second year student, Isabel Luna, and third year students, Noah Baldwin and Marie Molina. The three theater majors were specifically nominated to attend. “This was my second time participating, but first time as a nominee. During the Summer show –at Rio Hondo– a theater respondent came to watch us perform and chose me as a nominee,” said Luna.
Luna spoke about her experience at the festival, “I didn’t make it to the second round, but I felt like I learned more. I didn’t feel defeated. I gained more experience.”
This was also Baldwin’s second opportunity at auditioning for the festival. Last year was however a bit unconventional, as the first part of the conference was done by video audition. “This was my first time having an in-person preliminary round. One of the things I liked most about it being in person is that the message came across clearer. It felt more real. I learned a lot more from this. It gave me more enthusiasm,” said Baldwin.
In the preliminary round, students audition in front of a panel of judges.They receive feedback on their work, and depending on their performance, they advance to the next round. “When I wasn’t performing, I got to hear all of the feedback for others. It gave me clarity on what I need to focus on and apply. Gave me a newfound appreciation for this kind of performance,” said Baldwin.
Aside from competing or spectating, the students can attend workshops and master classes. Participants have long and productive days learning, networking and perfecting their crafts. “I think it’s really good to be in this type of setting. Great way to start off by practicing your auditioning. And then you get to go to workshops and look at everything from different perspectives. All of it is different from where you are right now. It’s good for your career and yourself,” said Molina.
Furthermore, Schleicher shared, “It’s the single most significant educational experience they get out of our program here. Because it is crammed in a week. They prepare for it. They perform. They get evaluated. They get training, and they’re also assessing what they’re learning. All the things we try to do in our classes during the 16 weeks, it’s happening all in 1 week.”
Winners of the regional conferences are then invited to the KCACTF National Festival in Washington, D.C. the week of April 15. KCACTF provides these students with round-trip transportation to the festival, as well as shared hotel accommodations and per diem allowances for each day of travel and attendance.