Theater Students Reach New Heights
Every year, eight regional theater competitions nationwide determine which university and college theater students will participate in the prestigious national American College Theater Festival. Competition is always rigorous. In the seven years Principia College had participated, only two Principia students ever advanced past the first round of competition.
This year was a different story. With over 280 students entering the competition, 64 advanced to the semifinals—including all three entrants from Principia!
Students Ben Rowe, Alice Stanley, and Kirsty Rivett were selected to compete by festival representatives who viewed the students’ performances in last spring’s musical, Wonderfultown, and last fall’s play, Summer Brave.
Along with their scene partners and Director and Associate Theatre Professor Trish Brown, the performers traveled to Kansas City for the regional competition. “It was such a gift to go with this group,” Brown shared. “The students’ metaphysical preparedness really shined through during the trip.”
In conversations with other students and directors, the Principia group didn’t come across any schools that had all of its competitors advance to the semifinals. As a result, the competition was buzzing with interest in Principia’s theater program, with more than 80 people attending a workshop given by Brown on a movement technique developed by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.
The experience was fulfilling for the three scene partners as well as the competing performers. “I was nervous pretty much the entire time, but I felt really good after each performance,” said Hunter Hoffman, a freshman and first-time attendee. “I grew a lot as an actor on this trip.” Hoffman credits Brown’s direction specifically. “She was phenomenal, always making sure everything we were doing was connected and honest.”
Brown is confident the competition was beneficial to all participants. “All our students received very positive feedback in one-on-one conversations with the judges, and one of our students, Alice Stanley, was given an interview with The Actor’s Theater of Louisville as a result of her work.”
Although the Principia performers did not advance past semifinal competition, Brown considers the week a success. “I know that the students’ strong desire to see everyone do well is what made a difference for them.”
Chief Executive Updates
