The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

February 2010

Saddleback College Theatre Art Students Earn Kennedy Center Nominations

Posted By CotoBlogzz 01-22-2009 07:00 PM

Mission Viejo, CA – The Department of Theatre Arts at Saddleback College announced student actor selections from the fall productions as nominees for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions. The following students were nominated this year:

Don’t Dress for Dinner: Josefine Damgaard, Matt Fauls

Snoopy: David Kremer

Scene partners for the above students are also Theatre Arts students, i.e. Michelle Parent, Colin Kirkpatrick and Rachel Schull.

These Saddleback College students, accompanied by KCACTF Coordinator Maria Mayenzet (Saddleback College faculty and director), will be auditioning for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region VIII, hosted by Dixie State College of Utah in St. George, Utah on February 9-13, 2010. According to Mayenzet, “These prestigious nominations were made possible by Saddleback College ’s Associated Student Government (ASG) for their contribution to and support of the Department of Theatre Arts and its passionate, talented and versatile students.” Fine Arts and Media Technology Dean Dixie Bullock is also impressed with this honor for our students, stating “ I am delighted that these very deserving students have been nominated for this prestigious Kennedy Center award. They are extremely talented individuals who benefit from the excellent instruction of the Theater Arts faculty at Saddleback College and we are proud to have them represent the college as artists in this competitive scholarship audition..”
Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center ’s founding chairman; the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of College Theater in the United States .

Photo: Ken Kinder, Don’t Dress for Dinner: Matt Fauls and Josefine Damgaard

The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF. Through state, regional, and national festivals, KCACTF participants celebrate the creative process; see one another’s work, and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design.

The Theatre Arts Department serves as an educational base, a vocational training ground and an artistic resource for the community. By combining production excellence with academic achievement, the Department fulfills its role as a leader in the performing arts in Orange County . Acting, directing, production, design and dramatic literature are all important facets of the Theatre Arts program. Each year the Department presents a diverse production season which combines high artistic standards with public appeal, and which challenges and expands the talents of students both on stage and behind the scenes. The Entertainment & Theatre Technology Certificate Program offers students a practical hands-on education that will lead to the opportunity to secure entry-level positions in the entertainment industry. Saddleback College is located 60 minutes from the heart of Los Angeles , the entertainment capital of the world, which allows the students to work with faculty, staff and guest lecturers who are working professionals and experts in their fields.

Photographer: Ken Kinder, Snoopy: David Kremer

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information,click here