Riverland Community College theatre faculty, staff and students experienced some triumphs at the Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Des Moines, IA, January 22-28, 2023.

Certificates of Merit:

• Little Shop of Horrors – Cast, Ensemble Performance
• Little Shop of Horrors – John Deyo, Digital Special Effects
• Little Shop of Horrors – Lindsey Williams, Direction
• The Actor’s Nightmare/The Audition – Maddie Bartlett, Stage Management & Acting
• A Christmas Carol – Ciel Rogers, Collaborative Contribution by a Stage Manager
• A Christmas Carol – Susan V. Hansen, Script Update & Adaptation
• Griffin Franksain, Semi-Finalist for the Musical Theatre Intensive
• Ryan Flanders, Cast in 10-Minute Play “Uncivil War”
• Ciel Rogers, Stage Manager for Invited Scenes Showcase
• Gracie Salvaggio and Griffin Franksain recieved multiple callbacks for professional audition

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a national theater program involving 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country. KCACTF aims to:

• Encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs;
• Provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight, and achieve professionalism;
• Improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States; and
• Encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived; and experimental works.

Since its inception, KCACTF has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills, and receive national recognition for excellence. More than 16 million theatergoers have attended approximately 10,000 festival productions nationwide.

Riverland participated in one of eight district festivals that take place in January and February and showcase the finest regional productions, offer workshops, and celebrate students' work. 

Riverland's Theatre Department is a high-energy, performance-oriented program. Four mainstage productions are performed each academic year: one classic musical, one contemporary musical, one comedy (modern or classic) and one drama (modern or classic). Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production, including but not limited to acting, stage managing, set building, and design. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.