The SBVC Theatre Arts Department was recently recognized in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Los Angeles. This year's festival was the fifth attended by SBVC.
As in previous years, the festival presents a prompt and invites colleges to prepare a devised piece inspired by the prompt. The festival prompt was "Admittance without papers is forbidden," and Valley theatre students entered their performance, "The Journeys to Build a Home" into the festival.
This first-ever devised piece entered by SBVC went on to win a Tectonic Theatre Artist in Residency Scholarship. "Tectonic" is the theatre group world-renowned for their creation of "The Laramie Project."
SBVC student Monica Hart, who has been a dedicated participant in recent years, said that this trip was "by far the most enlightening and rewarding experience."
SBVC students also participated in the Irene Ryan Acting Auditions and the Stage Management presentations.
Alejandro Sotelo and Pacifique Kabanda performed in "Voire Dire," which went on to win an award in the New Plays Competition. Monica Hart performed in a short play entitled "Value."
The students also auditioned to be a part of the Music Theatre International Cabaret. In a first for SBVC, Mathew Braxton and Pacifique Kabanda were cast in the cabaret as dancers. Mathew Braxton and Alejandro Sotelo were also cast in devised pieces created and performed during the week of the festival, with Mathew's piece winning an award.
Melinda Fogle, Theatre Arts faculty, advised, directed, and accompanied the acting nominees to the event. "Our students arrived prepared and took full advantage of all the Festival opportunities," said Fogle. "The Kennedy Center Festival is a golden opportunity for our students, and our students work very hard in Valley productions to be considered for a KC nomination so they can participate in festival. This group spent hours upon hours rehearsing and fundraising for Festival. I admire their commitment, passion and artistic bravery. They represented the department, the college, and San Bernardino, and they will bring all of their experiences and knowledge back to our college and community to share. I am beyond proud of these students, and I am thankful to the District for supporting this event. In doing so, they are changing lives."