At the end of February, Texas Tech University Theatre and Dance students traveled to Abilene where they participated in the Region 6 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). This was the first time in three years KCACTF was not held virtually. Students were excited to be in-person once again to show their skills in directing, performance, design, management, and arts advocacy.

Multiple students were selected from the regional festival to attend the National KCACTF Festival in their respective events. Amanda Baschnagel, a first-year MFA Performance and Pedagogy student, gathered a team of eleven undergraduate and graduate students to direct a scene from She Kills Monsters for the Student Director Initiative. The scene, featuring performers Bailey Patterson, Thomas Schnaible, JD Myers, Naomi Taylor, Elyse Dixon, Benjamin Stanford, Hunter Wilson, Karlie Smith, Birdie Stabeno, Alice Bryant, and Mary Lantz, was selected by a panel of judges from the region as the best directing scene at the festival and Baschnagel won the Robert R. Buseick Award for Directing Excellence. Baschnagel will advance to the National Student Directing initiative in Washington D.C. this April. 

Sean Robertson and Rachel Shipley, MFA Arts Administration students, along with PhD candidate Lily Vetter, will also advance to the National KCACTF Festival as members of the ASPIRE program. Designed to cultivate a new generation of artistic and administrative leaders in America theatre, ASPIRE provides opportunities for workshops, curated discussions, and professional networking opportunities. Robertson, Shipley, and Vetter all advance for their talent and hard work at the regional level. 

Texas Tech Theatre students have always done well in design events too. This year, multiple students advanced to finals in costume design, lighting design, and sound design. One of those students, third-year MFA Design/Teach student Jonathan Lee, won the Barbizon KCACTF Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Sound Design as well as the Region 6 Peer Choice Award for Excellence in Sound Design. 

Joining the aforementioned students on their trip to Washington D.C. is former Irene Ryan National Winner and second-year MFA performance and pedagogy student, Bailey Patterson, who will announce the 2023 Irene Ryan winner at this year's national awards ceremony. 

Please join us in congratulating these students for their work being recognized by the Kennedy Center! 

Below is a list of all student accomplishments from the Region 6 festival. 

Amanda Baschnagel:

• Robert R. Buseick Award for Directing Excellence and Student Director Initiative National Finalist (Full Team: Bailey Patterson, Thomas Schnaible, JD Myers, Naomi Taylor, Elyse Dixon, Benjamin Stanford,  Hunter Wilson, Karlie Smith, Birdie Stabeno, Alice Bryant, and Mary Lantz)
• Irene Ryan Finalist 
• Irene Ryan Best Scene with partner JD Myers

Alfie Darling:

• Regional Finalist, Recognition for Costume Design (Far Away)

Adam Harris:

• Gary Garrison Ten-Minute Play Award and Regional Finalist (Fermata Breve)
• Special Recognition for Drag Show Design/Technology Crew and Outstanding Honor Crew 

Mary Lantz:

• Irene Ryan semi-finalist

Jonathan Lee:

• Region 6 Peer Choice Award for Excellence in Sound Design 
• Barbizon KCACTF Award for Theatrical Design Excellence in Sound Design

William Loconto: 

• National Partners in American Theatre Design Award for Lighting Design (DanceTech 2022)

Michelle Moore:

• Region 6 Peer Choice Award for Excellence in Allied Crafts (Fly By Night)
• National Partners in American Theatre Design Award (Fly By Night)

JD Myers: 

• Excellence in Devised Theatre Award 
• Musical Theatre Initiative: Finalist and Honorable Mention
• Irene Ryan Best Scene Winner with nominee Amanda Bachnagel 

L'Hannah Pedigo:

• Heart of the Art Award for Scenic Design (On the Verge) Texas Tech University/Amarillo College 
• Region 6 Peer Choice Award for Excellence in Scenic Design (On the Verge) Texas Tech University/Amarillo College

Sean Robertson:

• ASPIRE Winner and National Finalist

Thomas Schnaible:

• Irene Ryan Semi-Finalist

Rachel Shipley:

• ASPIRE Winner and National Finalist

Karlie Smith: 

• Irene Ryan Finalist First Alternate 

Lily Vetter:

• ASPIRE Winner and National Finalist

Meagan Woodard:

• Regional Finalist, Recognition for Costume Design (A Little Night Music)