Sioux Center, Iowa — Dordt University’s Theatre Department received awards this year at The American College Theatre Festival.
Four Dordt students submitted auditions for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Sam Landstra and Johnanna Gross made it to the semifinal round, with Landstra going on to the final round.
Laurel Koerner, chair of the Theatre Arts Department says Sam advanced with a monologue and scene that were developed in the Fundamentals of Acting class, a testament to the growth that happens in the classroom and manifests on their stages. Sam approaches acting with exceptional rigor and disciplined professionalism; he’s a joy to work with as an instructor and director.
Dordt students Hannah Vanderhooft, Christianna Marcy, and Hayden Houtsma submitted work to the design expo and received responses from professionals in respective fields. Marcy’s costumes for “Break of Day” were selected for inclusion in the Costume Parade. She also received the Jane Childs Award for first time presenters and has the opportunity to attend the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas this summer.
Koerner says they like to say they’re doing ‘Division I theatre’. There are no distinctions at the regional or national level between Dordt and large state schools with massive theatre programs. To see their students competing and keeping pace with those from larger programs demonstrates the value of the individualized attention they receive at Dordt.
Certificates of merit were given for work on the following respective Dordt productions.
Peter and the Starcatcher
Gerrit VanDyk for Graphic Design
Robin Suing for Marketing
Hannah Landman for Properties Design
The Diviners
Lindsay Kuiper for Sound Design
Hannah Vanderhooft for Stage Management
Teresa Ter Haar for Direction
