Chair’s Report KCACTF Region 2 Festival 46 January 14-18 2014 West Chester University, West Chester PA Festival Overview - ThrilleD to have Charles WelDon of the Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. as our keynote speaker this year. His talk was inspiring, and he also serveD as an Irene Ryan semi-finalist selector. - It was wonDerful to have BC/EFA anD ASTEP back at our festival. Sarah Mitchell serveD as a semi-finals selector, and Maruicio Salgado was one of our preliminary rounD selectors. - Michael Legg of Actor’s Theatre of Louisville was finally able to fit Region 2 into his schedule this year, providing opportunities for Region 2 students, anD serving as a preliminary rounD selector. - The number of participating proDuctions DroppeD again this year, anD our slate of shows to consider inviting to festival was quite thin. Four of our top choices were from 2 schools, only allowing us to invite one from each. We enDeD up inviting alternates from our list – which begs the question: are we really showcase the best college theatre proDuctions in our region? AnD what shoulD we be Doing about that? Something to bring to the National table, as well as to discuss with our regional leadership. - The number of Irene Ryan registrants also DroppeD this year – last year we had 267 auditioning, and we were down to 187 this year. This also is of concern, and should be discussed with our Regional Leadership. DTM entries went from 125 last year to 104 in 2014. - Once again blesseD by the many talenteD theatre artists from across the nation who gave of their time, talents, anD expertise to make the Region 2 festival a success. Invited Productions WHO WILL CARRY THE WORD? by Charlotte Delbo Produced by: Rowan University Director: Anthony Hostetter WeDnesDay, January 15, 9:30 a.m. anD 2:30 p.m. MaDeleine Wing Adler Theatre BaseD upon the biography of Charlotte Delbo, Who Will Carry The WorD? depicts the lives of 20 women sharing a bar- racks in the WWII Nazi Death camp Auschwitz. Their goal: to keep the strongest alive so that someone can share their experiences with the worlD. A sobering anD very moving celebration of the human spirit, Who Will Carry The Word? is a portrait of the resilience of ordinary people placed in extraordinary—and in this case, horrifying—circumstances. AVENUE Q 1 Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, Book by Jeff Whitty BaseD on an Original Concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx Produced by: College at Brockport WeDnesDay, January 15, 8:30 p.m. Emilie K. AsplunDh Concert Hall The mix of puppets anD people, along with the setting of urban brownstones, may reminD people of Sesame Street, but the lessons learneD on Avenue Q are very Different than the ones we learneD as toDDlers. They are not only much more mature, but these puppets talk like sailors and have urges, as well. Yes, we’re talking about puppet sex. What else can one expect from Avenue Q, besiDes puppet pornographers, post-college malaise anD a pair of “BaD IDea Bears?” Well, the musical tells the timeless story of a recent college graD nameD Princeton who moves into a shabby Brooklyn apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets Kate Monster (the girl next door), RoD (the Republican), Trekkie Monster (an internet sexpert, and no relation to Kate), Lucy the Slut (neeD we say more?), anD other colorful types who help Princeton finally discover his purpose in life. DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE by Sarah Ruhl Produced by: Slippery Rock University Director: Laura Smiley ThursDay, January 16, 9:30 a.m. anD 2:30 p.m. MaDeleine Wing Adler Theatre “There are only one or two sacreD places left in the world toDay. Where there is no ringing. The theater, the church, anD the toilet...” A wilDly imaginative comeDy...a hallucinatory poetic fantasy that explores the munDane anD the metaphysical, the patently bizarre anD the bizarrely moving through the oDyssey of a woman forceD to confront her own assumptions about morality, reDemption anD the neeD to connect in a technologically obsesseD worlD. Written by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient and Pultizer prize finalist, Sarah Ruhl. OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder ProDuceD by: Carroll Community College Director: John Moletress ThursDay, January 16, 8:30 p.m. Emilie K. AsplunDh Concert Hall DescribeD by EDwarD Albee as “...the greatest American play ever written,” Our Town follows the small town of Grover’s Corners through three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love anD Marriage,” anD “Death anD Eternity.” NarrateD by a stage manager anD performeD with minimal props anD sets, auDiences follow the Webb and Gibbs families as their chilDren love anD live. Carroll Community College offers this lovingly well-worn play with youthful imagination, which aims to offer greater support for WilDer’s themes anD intentions. LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes, AdapteD by Ellen McLaughlin Produced by: Bowie State University Director: Bob Bartlett 2 FriDay, January 17, 9:30 a.m. anD 2:30 p.m. MaDeleine Wing Adler Theatre Although “MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR” became the quintessential slogan of the counterculture of the late 1960s, it has long been the sentiment of many across the ages anD arounD the worlD who believeD that war is not the answer. Although Aristophanes’ anti-war comeDy was antithetical to the lives of Greek women, the play strikes a universal chorD on the power women holD when it comes to certain aspects of the male-female connection. BSU Theatre is prouD to present this very moDern aDaptation by Ellen McLaughlin, which shows clearly that the theme of this Greek classic transcenDs time anD culture. VORTEX by Jeffrey Lentz and Cocol Bernal ProDuceD by Albright College Director: Jeffrey Lentz FriDay, January 17, 8:30 p.m. Emilie K. AsplunDh Concert Hall “Her lips trembleD so that for a long while she coulD say nothing.” Leo Tolstoy There are some experiences in life that transcenD the use of worDs. The same can be saiD of our stories. Vortex is a human story of love betrayeD anD forgiveness testeD tolD through the theatrical elements of movement, light, anD music. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare ProDuceD by: AlfreD University Director: Becky Prophet SaturDay, January 18, 9:30 a.m. anD 4:00 p.m. MaDeleine Wing Adler Theatre What is maskeD anD what is revealeD? What is truth anD what is lies? What is a game and what is cruelty? What is gullibility or foolishness when compareD to blinDness to the better parts of human nature? What is the threat of one against the other, to renD the fabric of a society? William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a bright comeDy with a DeciDeDly Dark center. The vortex and the dark side of these questions whirls around two pairs of lovers and threatens to destroy innocence, whether in Messina or London of 1590 or FloriDa in the 1920s-30s. In the context of youth, passions, victory in battle, and deep love, few can avoiD being caught up in the howling, grinding spiral that is the desire of one person to destroy another, no matter who is hurt in the process. It is, then much aDo anD only about nothing when the innocent are absolveD and the guilty caught. THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Music anD Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin, ConceiveD by Rebecca FelDman, AdDitional Material by Jay Reiss Produced by: The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Director: Natalie Jones – Student Director! SaturDay, January 18, 1:30 p.m. Emilie K. AsplunDh Concert Hall Ever DreameD of competing in a spelling bee? How about performing in a musical? Then this audience participation-baseD show is the one for you! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee tells the tale of six adolescent outsiDers vying for the 3 spelling championship of a lifetime, overseen by grown-ups who barely manageD to escape chilDhooD themselves! This Tony AwarD-winning musical is sure to tickle your funny bone anD warm your heart as the participants learn that winning isn’t everything anD losing Doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. Be sure to stop by our Speller Registration table before the show if you’D like to be on stage for this musical comeDy aDventure! Showcase Production ALIVE “A DeviseD Puppet Piece” DevelopeD by the Ensemble ProDuceD by: ArcaDia University Directors: Alisa Kleckner anD Scott CassiDy Thursday January 16, 2014 9pm-10:30pm Mainstage Theatre For a kooky circus family, living on the roaD is one Delicious cake walk. But what happens when PanDora’s pickleD preDictions abruptly stop pointing the way? A tale of Daring, Divisive anD Diabolical Dimensions threatens to Derail a Dubious shareD Destiny.Grab your ticket, pop some circus peanuts anD prepare yourself for three rings of the most wonDrous puppet show on earth! Keynote Speaker Charles WelDon is the Artistic Director of The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. anD is a veteran Director anD actor of stage, film anD television. Directing creDits incluDe; the NEC proDuctions Futurology, The Musical, Cabaret Émigré, anD The Picture Box. He DirecteD ColoreD People’s Time for the New York Public Schools, The Offering at Rip Rap StuDio Theater in Los Angeles, Waiting to EnD Hell, at the ShaDow Theatre in Denver. His career began as the lead singer with the group, The Pardons in 1968, writing anD recorDing the number one smash hit, DiamonDs anD Pearls. He performeD in the original San Francisco cast of Hair. Charles came to New York with the BroaDway musical, Big Time Buck White, with MohammeD Ali anD in 1970 he joineD The LegenDary Negro Ensemble Company, Inc.