The 2025-2026 Culver-Stockton College (C-SC) Theatre Department attended the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) where many students were recognized for their contributions or performances to plays performed during the year 2025. Dr. Haidee Heaton, Professor of Theatre at C-SC, said 15 students attended the festival.
“ACTF is the American College Theatre Festival. C-SC is a part of Region 5 (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota). There are 8 regions nationally. Each year there are regional festivals and one national festival celebrating theatre students and their work.”, explained Dr. Heaton.
ACTF this year took place from Jan. 18th-24th. During this, many students at C-SC were nominated, recognized, or given awards for their performances. There were also workshops and shows that happened during the week creating a fun environment for everyone who attended. A few students were even selected and given the opportunity to participate in 10 minute plays during ACTF that were presented near the end of the festival.
Senior Addison Wetzel explained, “At the festival, I was chosen to direct a 10 minute play, “Firing Squad” by Gram Coalier. I also competed in the Irene Ryans and presented my costume design for “Carrie the Musical” at the Expo. I won outstanding direction for the staged reading of a 10 minute play. The most enjoyable part of the experience for me was rehearsals every morning. While the most memorable thing was winning for directing, while my playwright won for writing the play, and one of the actors I cast won the 10-minute acting award!”
Junior Kai Maurice shared, “ I love watching theatre and I love watching shows, just being able to see a variety of shows was really fun for me. The trip itself I enjoyed getting to know my peers a little better. Especially my directors, because it’s always good having a good actor-director relationship so you can work with people you are comfortable with and know how to talk with them effectively for a better performance is always good”
ACTF is a festival that gives many students interested in theatre an opportunity to meet with other peers from different areas who also enjoy theatre; as well as spend time together or compete with one another throughout the week for performances they all have been part of.
Below are the list of students who were recognized for their contributions or performances to shows from the college.
- Riko Davis (So) and his scene partner Xander Brown (Fr) advanced to the Semi-finals in the Irene Ryan acting competition. One of 64 semi finalist pairs out of over 300 from the preliminary round.
- Micah Peterson (Jr) won the Student Choice Award for best in Publicity and Promotions for “Carrie the Musical”.
- Charlotte Hansert (Sr) and her team, “Techtastic,” comprised of other ACTF attendees, Student Choice Award in the Stage Crew Olympics.
- Addison Wetzel (Sr), Best Direction of an original 10 minute play, “Firing Squad”, awarded at the final recognition ceremony. Wetzel directed the play at the festival where she cast and rehearsed during the week and performed in a showcase on Friday the 23rd.
- Zoey Kiser (Sr), cast in a 10 minute play, “Trial and Error” – one of 24 students out of over 100 auditionees.
- Kyla Grose (Jr), Selected to stage manage the 10 minute play “Manifest Destiney”.
- Zoey Kiser, Merit Award Costume Design for “The Great American Trailer Park Musical”.
- Charlotte Hansert, Merit Award Sound Design for “The Great American Trailer Park Musical”.
- Lora Nickel (Fr), Merit Award Ensemble Performance for “Eurydice”.
- Addison Wetzel, Merit Award Properties Management and Creation for “Eurydice”.
- Riko Davis, Merit Award Ensemble Performance for “Eurydice”.
- Addison Wetzel and Zoey Kiser are members of the ACTF Student Advisory Board. The Student Advisory Board Emcee the Student Choice Showcase, Host Student Impro Showcase, act as liaison between students and festival leadership.
