Glendale Community College Performing Arts was well represented at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), Region 8 award ceremony and award luncheon. Eeshan Kumar, a GCC Musical Theatre major, made it to the semifinal round of the Musical Theatre Initiative scholarship program. There were nearly 300 participants, including 2-year, 4-year, and graduate-level students. David Seitz, GCC Theatre Arts faculty, received KCACTF Region 8's highest honor, The Gold Medallion Award, "for your artistry, excellence in educational theatre, and demonstrated commitment to the values and goals of KCACTF." David was also recognized by the KCACTF Region 8 for his three-year service as the Stage Directors & Choreographers Society’s Student Directing Initiative Program Coordinator.
Eeshan participated in the Musical Theatre Initiative. The program is designed to celebrate, recognize, and foster outstanding musical theatre students from colleges and universities throughout the nation. The goal of the Initiative is to celebrate and recognize outstanding musical theatre students within Region 8 and offer educational opportunities for working with musical theatre professionals.
Applicants for the Musical Theatre Intensive Fellowship are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Singing ability
- Stage presence
- Demonstrated mastery of an expressive vocal and physical instrument
- Ability to urgently pursue strong, clear objectives through song
- Ability to make varied, specific, and bold acting choices while singing
- Coachability
The Gold Medallion that Professor Seitz received is the region’s highest honor. The award reads as follows. "Each year, the eight KCACTF regions honor individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of KCACTF and to excellence in educational theatre. It is the most prestigious regional award given by KCACTF and is considered one of the great honors in theatre education.”