by Lindsey Smith–With the upcoming Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) in January, students at Morningside are working hard to prepare their performances.
Among the nominees are Jared Martin and Amy Carothers. Martin was selected for his role in Love, Sex, and the I.R.S., and Carothers for her part in Quilters.
In addition, Joey Volquartsen and Brock Bourek were selected based on their work in Princess and the Pea!
While Martin will most likely not be attending the conference because of a conflicting computer science conference, he is still grateful to be considered. “I’m glad whoever it was that nominated me thought highly enough of me to nominate me.”
The entire process of nominations is intense. Morningside College only does a partial submission for KCACTF, where only a few actors can be nominated. This is a less expensive option but it also restricts the rest of the cast from entering the competition and reaping the benefits.
Besides offering scholarships, those that come to KCACTF get the opportunity to talk to professionals and acting companies like Black Hills Playhouse, MTJ, and Open Jar to name a few.
Carothers is working to prepare her pieces for the competition. She will have to perform three separate times, starting with a monologue and moving on to a scene each in the other rounds.
Students are competing to win a scholarship, but Carothers doesn’t have much hope that she will win. “No one from Morningside has ever gotten past the first round,” she says.
This fact will not stop her from trying though. Despite having cold feet at first, Carothers has prepared pieces from Proof, The Fantastics, and August Osage County. All of these pieces have two strong female characters and Carothers hopes to employ the help of her roommate and friend Joey Volquartsen as her acting partner if Volquartsen is not nominated herself.
Carothers is excited about this aspect of the festival. “Even if you don’t get a scholarship, you get feedback from professionals in the field.”
Of the performance itself, she stands conflicted. “That’s going to be good and terrifying. It’s a very competitive environment.”
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