By Jeff Murphy,
May 4, 2021
WARRENSBURG, MO - The prestigious (KCACTF) recognized two students and two productions from 欧美视频
Theatre and Dance with national awards during its virtual festival in April.
One of the UCM students who were honored was Sabrina Ortiz, a senior from Dittmer,
Missouri, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. She received a Special
Achievement in Dramaturgy award for her work in the dance concert, 鈥淚conic.鈥 This
production was an outdoor event that took place at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in October
2020, and included dance numbers and songs from famous musicals ranging from 鈥淪ingin鈥
in the Rain鈥 to 鈥淲est Side Story鈥 and 鈥淎 Chorus Line鈥 to a several other classic
selections.
Additionally, Danny Gage, a freshman digital media production major from Lee鈥檚 Summit,
Missouri, pursuing a minor in theatre, received a Special Achievement in Performance
honor for his role in 鈥淭ilikum.鈥 This was a virtual production that was named for
the infamous SeaWorld killer whale. It took the story of the sea creature that followed
its death to create a poetic, percussive fantasy that also brought to life a range
of social justice issues.
In addition to the student awards, 鈥淭ilikum鈥 earned the following distinctions: Kennedy
Center Citizen Artist Award, Innovative Use of Technology, Special Achievement in
Ensemble Collaboration - Performance and Production, Special Achievement: Overall
Production, and Special Achievement: Directing. The director was Drea Lewis, whose
work as a guest director with UCM students was made possible by the Meridith Harmon
Sauer Guest Artist Series.
In announcing the awards, KCACTF cited colleges and universities at the vanguard of
innovation in the field of theatre amid the pandemic, noting: 鈥淒uring these unprecedented
times, we celebrate these imaginative and evocative theatre-makers and productions
as being at the forefront of a revolution in artistry that ignites conversations of
national importance through innovation in process, content, form, design, technology,
outreach, and audience engagement.鈥
UCM Theatre and Dance learned of the honors from Jim Wood, KCACTF Region 5 Chair.
A complete list of national production recognitions is available at .