By Jeff Murphy,
February 3, 2021
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 Theatre and Dance faculty and staff members at the University of
Central Missouri attended the virtual (KCACTF) Jan. 16-23, and were recognized for excellence in multiple areas.
KCACTF invited two UCM productions, 鈥淭ilikum,鈥 a play by Kristiana Rae Col贸n and directed
by guest director Dr茅a Lewis, that was produced and performed in a virtual setting,
and 鈥淚conic鈥 a multi-media, outdoor, song and dance review, directed by Ashley Miller-Scully
and choreographed by UCM student choreographers, Miller-Scully, Spinning Tree Theatre
and Amy Gilchrist. Being an invited production is one of the top honors provided to
universities by KCACTF and is a rare occurrence when a university has multiple invited
productions.
In addition to the invited productions, UCM Theatre and Dance student directors, technical
directors, stage managers and performers were recognized for their 鈥淐reative, Effective
and Positive Delivery of Student Work鈥 for their studio productions.
UCM Theatre and Dance student Sabrina Ortiz also was selected to be the Region V representative
at the National Festival for the KCACTF Aspire/LORT (League of Resident Theatres Arts
Leadership Fellowship). According to the KCACTF website, it is a program designed
to cultivate a new generation of artistic and administrative leaders for American
theatre, and is focused on engaging Black, Indigenous and People of Color as well
as members of other groups that are consistently underrepresented in the field.
For the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships, Lacy Goettling and Emily Layt reached the
final round of the scholarship audition process and Emily Layt was awarded the Classical
Acting Award for her performance in the semi-final round.
Emily Layt also received Honorable Mention for the Student Dramaturgy Award for her
digital lobby display from 鈥淭ilikum.鈥
The following student and faculty choreographers received Certificates of Merit for
their work on鈥 Iconic鈥: Ashley Miller-Scully, Amy Gilchrist, Karlee Etter, Carly Othic,
Christina Foster, Ashton Bennett, Eleanor Panico and Valerie Ruggle. Additionally,
Sabrina Ortiz received a Certificate of Merit for her dramaturgical work on 鈥淚conic.鈥