Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF)

Every year, students from Kalamazoo College participate at the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF).

At the festival, students watch productions from selected colleges, participate in musical theatre and dance intensives, and go to workshops to improve their craft. There are also a multitude of awards and honors that students receive from the festival and our students have won and been nominated for many of them. Below you will find a selection of recent awards and nominations.

If you are interested in participating in KCACTF in the future, please contact our Company Manager, Kirsten Sluyter at kirsten.sluyter@kzoo.edu.

Student Awards/ Nominations

2023-2024: Systems as Old as Time, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI

Design Storm

Isaiah Calderon ’26 – Scenic Design Award for Gary: A Sequel Titus Andronicus

Addison Peter ’25 – Dramaturg for Decision Heights (Honorable Mention)

Playhouse Creatures by April De Angelis

Megan Herbst ’25 – Certificate of Merit in Stage Management

Abigail Nelson ’24 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Helen Stoy ’26 – Certificate of Merit in Stage Management

May Moe Tun ’25 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)


2022-2023: Mental Health Matters, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI

Design Storm

Milan Levy ’23 – Directing/Dramaturgy Award for Goodnight Tyler

Elena Truman ’23 – Makeup Design for Much Ado About Nothing (Honorable Mention)

National Playwriting Program – Full Length Script

Dr. Quincy Thomas – The Whites Explain It All (Recipient)

Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt

Sam Major ’24 – Certificate of Merit in Stage Management

All Followspot Operators – Certificate of Merit, Spot Operations


2021-2022: Black is Beautiful: An Ode to Black Life, Love, and Strength

Monologue Competition

Claire De Vries ’24 – Finalist

Well-Intentioned White People by Rachel Lynett

Cameo Green ’23 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Arman Khan ’24 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Jenny Nguyen ’25 – Stage Management (Nominee)


2020-2021: Our Time is Now! #ourstories

The Compass by Michael Rohd

Sam Ewald ’24 – Certificate of Merit, Stage Management

Emma Ferguson ’22 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Angela Mammel ’22 – Certificate of Merit, Scenic Design

Matthew Swarthout ’22 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)


2019-2020: HERstories: Forgotten Female Figures

Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson

Aly Homminga ’20 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Milan Levy ’23 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Ethan Tuck ’22 – Certificate of Merit in Stage Management

The Spitfire Grill by James Valcq and Fred Alley

Rebecca Chan ’22 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)

Sophie Hill ’20 – Irene Ryan Award for Performance (Nominee)


Visit the KCACTF website for more information.