HUTC’s ‘Reckless’ selected to perform at regional festival
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, December 11, 2013
HUNTINGTON, Ind. The Huntington University Theatre Company's dramatic rendition of "Reckless" has been selected as a participating production at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). This is the first time that an HU show has been honored at this level.In January, HU theater students will perform at the regional festival alongside other select college and university theater programs at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Mich.
"This is a tremendous honor for our theater department and Huntington University," said Jay Duffer, associate professor of theater arts. "Out of all of the many shows presented across our five state region, only six shows were selected to attend the regional festival, and we are one of those six."
While at the festival, students will perform alongside schools from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing and design. Being selected also qualifies the university for possible national awards and recognitions.
"I am so very proud of our students who worked diligently and passionately on this particular production," Duffer said. "The quality of design and performance was well executed, and it obviously caught the critical eye of the regional respondents and selection committee."
Written by "The Light in the Piazza" playwright Craig Lucas, "Reckless" is a journey filled with vivid characters who intercept Rachel's (Lindsay Hoops-Siewert) route to her self-discovery. Social worker Lloyd (Josh Cookingham) and his wife Pooty (Makenna Belt) offer her hospitable place to rest her head; however, they too, have secrets to hide.
"Reckless" previously debuted in spring 2013 in the Studio Theatre of the Merillat Center for the Arts on campus. The cast is comprised of nine students, who play 21 roles. Since its debut, many of the cast have graduated. They will gather again from across the nation to perform under the direction of Duffer.
"This is an HU first, and we are excited to present to our region the work that goes on here in our productions," Duffer said.
For more information about the Huntington University Theatre Company, visit www.huntington.edu/theatre.
