Sami Schwanke/Winonan

The Winona State University theater department recently gave its students the opportunity to take a trip to Lincoln, Neb. for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF).

Winona State students joined students from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Iowa at the festival. There are eight regional festivals nationwide.

KCACTF is a six-day festival where theatre enthusiasts gather to show off and see the work of others. That includes everything from acting and directing to design and technology management.

Conlan Carter, a senior theater and English literature and language double major, was there as a writer and scholar of theater.

“I was the only one bringing anything outside acting [from Winona State],” Carter said. “I was invited to bring a play for a one-act competition and presented two works in dramaturgy.”

Dramaturgy is the composition or structure of dramatic works. Carter’s two dramaturgy studies were on “God of Carnage,” which the Winona State theatre department performed this past semester, and William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” which Carter said he was inspired to do after taking the Shakespeare class on campus.

Carter said besides dramaturgy, he enjoyed the educational side to KCACTF too.

“KCACTF is really important for undergraduate students because you’re surrounded by people doing the same thing at different schools,” Carter said. “There are classes every day. I personally went to six playwriting classes, but also arts and administration.”

Carter also had the opportunity to have his work professionally critiqued.

“You get a formal, professional critique from someone who does this for a living,” Carter said. “For example, my play was responded to by three professional playwrights. We also trade scripts with region four, so I had someone from Missouri respond to mine.”

But this experience isn’t limited to writing and dramaturgy.

“They have competitions in everything: light, sound, stage management, costume design, make up, acting, directing, etc.”

Anthony Schliesman, a junior theater major and creative writing minor, and Keagan Anderson, a freshman chemistry major and theater and communications minor, said they felt their love for theater validated from their experiences at KCACTF when they advanced in competition.

“It was my first year going,” Anderson said. “It really solidified a couple of my choices regarding my minor and how I want to spend my life. I want theater to be a part of it.”

Beyond that, the festival presented Anderson and Schliesman with an opportunity to compete.

This year was Schliesman’s third year of competition. He has always been an acting partner until this year, when he brought partner Anderson, making Schliesman the lead.

“My freshman year I was the partner to Tiffany Streng, and we went to Washington, D.C. for the finals,” Schliesman said. “And I ended up at the semi-finals this year. Prior to this year, I was just the partner and this year I was able to represent myself there and compete. It was a big thing for me.”

Being selected to enter semi-finals at all is an accomplishment. Schliesman was invited to participate in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship this year at KCACTF.

Beyond that, senior Anthony Stewart got a Certificate of Merit for his work in “Peter Pan,” and Carter received one for his research on “God of Carnage.” He  also received first place for his work on “The Tempest.”

Overall, KCACTF is fun for all involved, according to Carter.

“It’s just a blast because you’re with your friends from theater department and you’re thrust into this environment with all these cool people,” he said. “And they’re very frank with you. There are professional auditions and interviews for future jobs.”

Anderson and Schliesman agreed.

“I’ll miss Lincoln. They were a very kind host,” Schliesman said. “Everybody that went from WSU did a fantastic job.”

If interested, Carter encourages students to get involved with the Winona State theater department and consider attending KCACTF.

“I always say that you don’t need to be a theater major,” Carter said. “People want to explore, so try your best to go to KCACTF and just involve yourself in the department here. We’re very inclusive. And KCACTF opens your eyes to if this is what you want to do.”