The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is holding the 42nd annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival through April 17.  Eight regional festivals had been held at colleges and universities across the country in January and February.
Selected participants from these regional festivals are invited to showcase their talents and to be considered for scholarships and awards.  Participants are also chosen to take part in master classes with other artists in their field.
Students in the festivals are eligible for awards in performance, stage design, play writing, directing, stage management, dramaturgy and dramatic critic.
Clarion University’s Audrina Lee Zaczyk is a nominee for this year’s scenic design award.
Scenic Design is one of three Barbizon Awards for Excellence along with costume and light design. The Barbizon Award gives student designers, like Zaczyk, the chance to display their art at a higher level.  Barbizon, Inc. is a theatrical supply house that specializes in lighting for professionals.
All Barbizon Award recipients will receive an award of $500 and an expenses paid trip to New York City for the National Design Portfolio Review at Lincoln Center.  Recipients will also be set up in a professional development residency.
Finalists will also be eligible for design fellowships to the O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwright’s Conference and the Shakespeare Theater Company Costume Internship. Five industry experts will select the award recipients in each category.
Zaczyk, a Clarion junior, won the Barbizon award for design at the Kennedy Center/ American College Theater Festival Region II Competition.  Zaczyk won the award for her design in Clarion University’s productions “The Water Engine” and “Mr. Happiness,” which were both showcased in November.
Zaczyk described her feelings on going through regionals into nationals.
“I had never done any kind of competition/conference for my designs before and so i didn’t know what was expected of me,” Zaczyk said.  “It was nerve racking though because we had a little while to wait to give our response.”
KCACTF was developed by Roger L. Stevens  in 1969 and is “dedicated to encouraging, recognizing and celebrating the finest and most diverse work produced in college and university theater programs,” according to a press release sent out late last month.
The festivals aim to provide a chance for college theater departments to present their original, student-written work.  The Kennedy Center itself provides educational experiences in the arts for students through performances, residencies, workshops, conferences, career development programs, symposia and online and print resources.
The educational mission of the Kennedy Center is to “foster understanding of and participation in the arts through programs and performances for diverse populations of all ages that represent the unique cultural life and heritage of the United States.”
Zaczyk said that while she was at the regional competition the judges gave her constructive criticism, which was what she was looking for.
“I’ve had one session out of three with Mercier and he is great and has a lot of great insights into the theatre world and design,” she said.
In addition to the Barbizon Awards, KCACTF also provides recognition education and support to all other aspects of theater.
KCACTF puts it’s name on the award for sound design and also for the make-up design along with Alcone.  At the festival, there are also other awards and recognitions given out to students including the National Award for Design Excellence, Stage Management Fellowships, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Student Directing Fellowship, the Literary Managers and Dramaturges of the Americas Dramaturgy Award, the O’Neill National Critics Institute Scholarship and the KCACTF Undergraduate Scholar Award.

Zaczyk said that along with support from her high school technology education teacher, her college experience, and experience in this festival, her knowledge and love for design has grown.
“I’ve really just learned to just keep working at what i’m doing – it never gets easier but hopefully my work will get better.”