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The Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) has selected two ISU Theatre productions to showcase as invited productions at its upcoming annual festival, held virtually Jan. 16-22, 2022. This is the fourth consecutive year that ISU Theatre has been honored as an outstanding production at the regional festival. This year, ISU Theatre has two of only six productions selected from colleges and universities in the Region 5 states of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

KCACTF is a national organization affiliated with the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The organization celebrates and encourages excellence in college and university theatre.

ISU Theatre’s two honorees are from its 2020-21 season: “Facing our Truth: Ten Minute Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege,” directed by Tiffany Johnson, and “Songs for a New World,” directed by Brad Dell. The virtual festival will showcase previously recorded videos of the productions.

“We greatly value the mission of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival to celebrate and cultivate excellence in university theatre across the nation,” said Brad Dell, chair of Iowa State’s Department of Music and Theatre. “ISU Theatre is extremely proud to have both of these outstanding productions invited to be viewed at the Region 5 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Having two out of only six productions selected is a testament to the innovative and dynamic artistry being created by the amazing faculty, staff and students of the ISU Department of Music and Theatre.”

“Facing Our Truth” is a series of short plays written by a diverse group of playwrights in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman. The plays revolve around racial biases, stereotypes, heartbreak, loss and enlightenment. ISU Theatre’s production was supported by the Ames Public Library and the Ames Branch of the NAACP.

“Songs for a New World” is a contemporary song cycle sharing stories of characters exploring their own new beginnings with joy, longing and exuberance. A cast of 14 soloists gave voice to a stunningly imaginative array of stories and settings—all themed around life, love and the choices that are made in extraordinary moments.

For more information about ISU Theatre, visit www.theatre.iastate.edu, email isutheatre@iastate.edu or call 515-294-2624. ISU Theatre is funded by ISU Student Government and supported by the Transforming Liberal Arts and Sciences Endowment.