Theater festival back home
By Colleen Casey
Staff Reporter

The theatre department will spotlight its work this week when it plays host to a nationally prestigious theater festival, said theatre instructor Thomas Walsh.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s regional competition will return to Fort Worth after a 14-year absence Feb. 26 to March 2.

“TCU Theatre is becoming a destination program for many high school seniors and transfer students and our hosting (the festival) only solidifies that perception,” Walsh said.

Because of lost funding, the festival was forced to move from the Scott William Edrington Theatre on 3505 West Lancaster Ave., the location from 1970 to 1988. Since then it’s moved around the five state region, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Tim Dragga, a student co-coordinator for the festival, said it will be good for the festival to be back in an urban location because there’s more to do.

“The people producing it have been trying to get it back in the Metroplex,” Dragga said. “There’s more to offer in this area.”

The festival will include six shows, 14 participant workshops ranging from improvisational acting to auditioning for film and television.

The festival also includes the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships competition between shows, which will award three scholarships worth $2,500 each.

The shows being performed include TCU Theatre’s “La Llorona,” written by recent graduate Kathleen Milne.

Lindsay Schoch, another student co-coordinator, said she’s excited TCU will be showing the region what it has to offer.

“It’s good to let other schools come and see our facilities,” Schoch said. “It’s even more special because “La Llorona” is such an awesome show and so well written.”

Forrest Newlin, chairman of the theatre department, said he predicts “La Llorona” will be well accepted because it is student-written, which is one of the true aims of the festival.
Other shows include those of Southwestern Oklahoma State, Southern University of New Orleans, University of Arkansas, Sam Houston State and Texas Woman’s University. University of Tulsa will also compete in the short play category with two one-acts. The winner will advance to the national competition level, and perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington in April.

Because of spacing issues, each show will run in both Hays Theatre and the University Theatre at different times throughout the week.

The performances will be 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. TCU students only pay $5 if the theater isn’t full at show time.

Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu

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