American College Theatre Festival to be held in Honolulu in 2016

In February 2016, the KCACTF Region VIII Festival 48 will be held in Honolulu, Hawai`i at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Chaminade University.  More details to follow on the kcactf.org webpage. A great opportunity for Region VIII students to see the diverse University of Hawai`i program and for UHM students to attend a KCACTF Festival in their own backyard!

UHM Theatre and Dance students collaborate at Hawaii Theatre Center

Eddie Wen' Go: The Story of The Upside Down Canoe received its world premiere this week at the beautiful downtown Hawaii Theatre Center. A collaboration between the Hawaii Theatre Center's Education Program and the UHM Department of Theatre and Dance, the show was directed by UHM Faculty member Mark Branner. Graduate students Kelsy Peacock (lighting design) and Kim Shire (costume design) were given the opportunity to design in this historic downtown facility. Many students were in the cast adding their unique talents as puppeteers, dancers, and actors. The play was performed Sept 16 to 20, 2014.

 

TYA Grad student awarded prestigious Doyle Fellowship

Recent graduate Yasu Ishida, who received his MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences in May 2014, has been  selected as the winner of the American Alliance for Theatre Education's Doyle Fellowship. This is one of the most prestigious awards given to graduate students in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences. Yasu submitted an extensive portfolio of videos, photos, reviews, and more in a very vigorous selection process. He was chosen by an impartial panel of TYA professionals from around the country as the top candidate. He will receive the award at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education Awards Event in Denver, Colorado, on July 31, 2014. Click here for more information on Yasu and his award. Congratulations Yasu!

UH Contingent attending 2014 USITT Conference in Fort Worth

Several members of the faculty and staff as well as a group of nine students are headed to Fort Worth to participate in this year's USITT conference.

Faculty Members Brian Shevelenko and Cheri Vasek and Staff Members Rick Greaver and Hannah Schauer will be making presentations and  will be available in the University of Hawaii booth #839 to talk about the program.

Theatre students participate in ACTF Region VII festival in Los Angeles.

Theatre students from the UHM Department of Theatre and Dance are attending the Region VII American College Theatre Festival in Los Angeles Feb 12 - 15. Three students were invited to particulate in the Irene Ryan Acting competition based on their performances at Kennedy Theatre. They are:

Leah Koeppel (Thread Hell) and partner Kyle Scholl
Karissa Myers (Big Love) and partner Timothy Callais, accompanist Amy Johnson
Kaitlin Souza (Big Love) and partner Shaun Dikalato

Thead Hell scenic designer Meg Hanna will present her portfolio in the design competition.

The Department of Theatre and Dance was also invited to present a scene from Thread Hell. The scene will be directed by Matthew Kelty, who was the Assistant Director for the Kennedy production. The actors will be Leah Koeppel, Kyle Scholl and  Isaac Ligsay, who were all in the original production.

Update:

Here's is how our UHM students fared at ACTF this year. Congrats to all who participated!

Meg Hanna

-National Finalist Award for Design, Technology and Management (Scenery): 

-Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas/KCACTF 1-Week internship Award

 

Amy Johnson

-National Runner-Up/Alternate for the Institute of Theatre Journalism and Advocacy (Dramatic Criticism)

 

Matthew Kelty 

- Passed to finals for Directing with scene from Tartuffe

- Directed SDC Invited Scene (Thread Hell)

 

Leah Koeppel

- Performed in SDC Invited Scene (Thread Hell)

- Participated in Mathew Kelty's scene for finals for directing 

- Next Step Callbacks: Missoula Children's Theater, Neil Simon Festival, and the Theatricum Botanicum

 

Karissa Murrell-Myers

- Performed in SDC Invited Scene (Thread Hell)

- Performed in Directing Scene (Tartuffe), in the pre-lims and finals 

- 3 Next Step Callbacks: Kingsman Shakespeare, Neil Simon Festival & Theatricum Botanicum 

 

Isaac Ligsay

- Performed in SDC Invited Scene (Thread Hell)

- 2 Next Step Callbacks: Kingsman Shakespeare & Theatricum Botanicum.

 

Kyle Scholl

- 4 Next Step Callbacks: Missoula Children's Theater, Kingsmen Shakespeare, Neil Simon Play Festival & Theatricum Botanicum 

 

Kaitlin Souza 

- 3 Next Step Callbacks: CSU Summer Arts, and Stella Adler & Theatricum Botanicum, 

Shaun Dikilato 

-  2 Next Step Callbacks: Stella Adler & Theatricum Botanicum

UH Alums make a big splash at Manoa Valley Theatre's "Toxic Avenger"

UH Alumni contributed to all facets of the recent production of Toxic Avenger at Manoa Valley Theatre in Honolulu. Hannah Schauer Galli, who served as Guest Director, received her MFA in Directing. Michelle Boudreau, starring as Sara, has her BA in Theatre. Jenn Thomas, who did an amazing turn as Mayo Babs Belgoody and Ma Fern, has an MFA in Acting. The inventive scenic design was created by MFA Scenic Designer M.J. Matsushita. Nicole Tessier, MFA Asian Performance, ran sound board. Congrats to all these wonderful alum who are showcasing us in the community!

UHM Theatre Alum Receives Tony Award

Peter Lawrence, who received his MFA from the University of Hawaii in 1969, was honored at the 2013 Tony Awards with a Tony for Excellence in Theatre for his 30 year career in theatre. Lawrence has worked as production stage manager for over 20 Broadway shows including the current revival of Annie. Lawrence served as associate director for the Broadway productions The Man of La Mancha, Shrek, The Musical, Spamalot, Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun. He was the executive producer for the mega-musicals Miss Saigon and Les Miserables.

Click here for more on Peter Lawrence and his Tony Award.