Coastal Carolina University’s theater department will perform in the American College Theater Festival at the University of Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama, on Feb. 6 at noon.
The American College Theater Festival is a national theatre program that recognizes and celebrates diverse showcases in America. CCU’s theater department was chosen to be a part of one of the four featured panels of the southeast regions. This is their first time participating in the festival, where they will perform their production of “The Wolves,” featuring an all women cast for the first time since 2012.
Stage Director Kristi Rau McIntyre, a senior lecturer in the Department of Theatre, explained the process of submitting to the American College Theater Festival.
“We found out almost immediately. I had to put together a packet that was a 10-minute video of highlights throughout the show. I had to put together a slideshow presentation of photos and explain how they reflected the vision that I had for the show,” McIntyre said.
McIntyre acknowledged financial supports from Nancy Cave, the private benefactor who paid for the registration of all the students to attend the festival, as well as the offices of Provost Gibbs Knotts and Dean Claudia Bornholdt, who oversees the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, for funding the trip without any student expense.
Natalie Vimislik, a junior BFA design and production major, is excited about the potential opportunities the festival could present the theater department with.
“For us to have somebody who is grateful enough and that believes in our department, willing enough to give us a generous donation to help us go to Alabama … we’re very grateful for the fact that we’re even able to do this opportunity,” Vimislik said.
At the festival, students and faculty will attend classes, workshops, compete in solo and group performances as well as attend a closing night gala where students and schools will be awarded for their work at the festival.
Vimislik said she feels attending the festival will show that there’s more to Coastal than some may think.
“But even just being able to have our theater department go and put our name out there is amazing as it is, like it shows that a lot of people care about this. And it’s not just, ‘oh, it’s about football, oh, it’s about baseball,’ Vimislik said. “But it also shows that we have creative minds out there that are willing to put themselves out there.”
Sarah Cate Demarco, a freshman BFA acting major, said she looks forward to the opportunity and is excited to see how the cast’s hard work has paid off.
“I’m really honored to have the opportunity, and also really excited to spend the time with my friends and get to continue presenting the show that we all worked so hard on …we all put so much of ourselves and our time into,” Demarco said.
