McNeese Theatre Hosts Encore for Fundraiser

McNeese State University’s W.A. and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts is hosting an encore production of Tender Atlas as a fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. in Tritico Theatre. Tickets are $20 each.
The Kennedy Center for American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) chose McNeese theatre’s production of Tender Atlas to perform at the Region 6 conference in Abilene, Texas, in February. One of only five productions being presented at the festival.
“This is an incredible honor for McNeese and has happened only twice in the last forty years, most recently twelve years ago,” explained Joshua Stenvick, assistant professor of theatre at McNeese.
Tender Atlas is a collection of ten-minute plays written by national award-winning playwright Caity-Shea Violette. Ranging from heartwarming comedy to poignant heartbreak, these captivating vignettes follow people on the precipice of uncharted territory and explore how we face the unknown to find our way back to ourselves and each other.
Stenvick says typically McNeese sends seven students to the conference, but this year 14 students along with the set, props and costumes will make the journey. With the increase in expenses of food, hotels and travel, the department is hosting the encore production as a fundraiser for the conference. McNeese students may attend free of charge to show support for their fellow students.
Every evening during the weeklong KCACTF conference there is a performance by a college from the region. Productions can then be invited to perform at the national conference in Washington, D.C.
“We’re just happy to get invited to Texas,” Stenvick said. “Our production is one of only five chosen from more than 55 productions that were submitted from Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.”
McNeese participates in the KCACTF Region 6 conference every year. The conference allows students who excelled in a university performance to audition for scholarships, take workshops with professionals, submit portfolios, work with other students and network.
“One of the big opportunities are the workshops where the students work with professionals in acting, dance, music, backstage and set design,” Stenvick said. “The students also audition for jobs across the nation for summer and post graduate work. This is a fantastic opportunity for McNeese students!”
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