Oceanside CA— The MiraCosta College Theatre Department recently took 15 nominated students to the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival held at the University of Hawaii and Chaminade University to compete in the areas of acting, design, stage management and dramaturgy. More than 1,000 students from more than 50 different colleges and universities participated in this year’s Region VIII festival, including University of San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, Cal State Fullerton, Brigham Young University, Arizona State, University of Hawaii, Fresno State and scores of others.
“We are pleased to report that our theatre students represented MiraCosta College with excellence, poise and professionalism,” said theatre instructor Eric Bishop.
Three MiraCosta College students were named finalists:
Zachary Elliot in set design, and Timothy Cabal (with partner Ala Tiatia) and Jose Balestrieri (with partner Shelby Caughron) were named finalists in the Irene Ryan Scholarship Acting Competition.
Of the 300-plus competitors entered in the Irene Ryan acting competition, only 32 students survived the 90 percent cut after the preliminary round to make the semi-final round. MiraCosta’s theatre group had three Irene Ryan acting semi-finalists (top 10 percent), including Emily Neifert (with partner Kelly Saunders), Timothy Cabal and Jose Balestrieri.
Another 50 percent were then cut from the semi-final round, which brought the total number down from 32 to 16 students for the final round. Both Cabal and Balestrieri survived that cut and were named to the top 16 (or top 5 percent) as Irene Ryan finalists.
“Johnny Wilson from BYU won the Irene Ryan scholarship and will be performing at the Kennedy Center, but Timothy Cabal was named the VASTA Award winner for demonstrating the most outstanding vocal work in the finals performance,” said Bishop. “VASTA is an acronym for the ‘Voice and Speech Trainers Association.’”
MiraCosta College students also competed in areas of costume design, stage management and dramaturgy; received constructive feedback regarding their presentations; attended workshops to help improve aspects of their craft; attended theatre productions; and were immersed and educated in the Hawaiian culture.