Design, Technology & Management Program
Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound, Projections, and Allied Design & Technology Categories
Design, Technology, and Management Co-Chairs:
Maile Speetjens
University of Hawai’i, Mānoa
[email protected]
KCACTF Region 8 DTM Gallery Submission Guidelines (click to view)
Eligibility
Submit the INTENT TO PARTICIPATE form by JANUARY 3, 2025!
We CELEBRATE all the diverse and innovative work being done in the nation in the areas of Design, Technology, and Management
This festival season has again proven to be a very unique year in academic theatre. We want to celebrate all your efforts in creating theatre at this time in our world today. Whether your 2024 design and technology work was fully “realized and produced” or “non- realized and non produced”, we want you to submit your work to be showcased!
All work created in 20234either in class or for a campus stage is eligible this year to participate in the National DTM Program and will be considered for national honors and awards.
To be eligible, students must:
- Have designed or created a technology project at their home institution in 2024
- Be a bona fide student in 2024
- Be registered for and attend their Regional Festival to showcase their project and participate in response sessions.
Event
Students will present a design or technology project composed of materials which clearly tell the story of the process, evolution, and art of the design or technology component. A team of theatre design and technology respondents will serve as selection panelists and respond to the projects.
Supporting materials that have proven most useful include combinations of the following: production photographs, a design statement, research images, preliminary sketches, white models, color models, color sketches, drafting including sections, recording of sound cues and manipulations that lead to those compositions, design bibles, story boards, costume plates, fabric and trim swatches, costume plot, cue synopsis, tracking sheets, and the like. This is in no way meant to be a definitive list. Choose elements that best articulate and document the conceptual approach, process, and the production.
How to Participate
Fill out the Intent to Participate form listed on this site by JANUARY 3, 2025. Further information including logistics and other requirements will be forthcoming and provided via email.
– All submissions should include: Student’s name, student’s discipline title, event/play/piece title with playwright’s name, and other designers/collaborators clearly labeled with an easy to-read font; A design statement somewhere in your materials; Do not include the name of your school on any of your materials.
Design Categories
- Costume Designers may include examples of some process work such as preliminary sketches, or paperwork along with sketches (swatches) and realized work should include production photo(s).
- Scene Designers may include examples of some process work such as preliminary sketches, ground plans, or final renderings and/or models. Realized work should include production photo(s).
- Lighting Designers may include a plot, associated paperwork and the process you used to arrive at your design choices. Realized work should include production photo(s).
- Sound Designers may include clearly identifiable links or digital files with selected cues plus organizational/paper work such as sound plot and sound system design. Please include your process for arriving at your design choices. Realized work should include production photo(s).
- Projection Designers may include storyboards, applicable video content, sketches, process images/videos, organizational/paperwork, and other applicable communication materials. Please include your process for arriving at your design choices. Realized work should include production photo(s).
Allied Design & Technology Category
- Production & Shop Managers may include work that gives a thorough presentation of the scope and complexity of the project.
- Technical Directors, Head Electricians, and Sound Engineers may include examples of drafting and associated paperwork.
- Costume Technologists, Craft Artisans, and Hair and Makeup Artisans may include photos of the project worn by a model, or on a dress form, or wig stand and detailed process photos of the interior and exterior of each project.
- Prop Artisans and Scenic Artists may include detailed process photos of each project.
The project samples should reflect the range of technical challenges that you can solve and provide details on the process and the finished quality of the project. Realized work should include production photo(s).
Students are responsible for their own festival registrations, DTM registration, and other forms. Additional questions should be directed to Maile Speetjens, Region 8 DTM Co-Chair at [email protected].
Note: Each region has its own regional awards and honors in DTM as well.
Intent to Participate Registration Deadline: January 3rd, 2025
National KCACTF Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence
The Design and Technology Exhibition gives outstanding student designers the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Regional Festival, as well as the chance to attend the KCACTF National Festival. Throughout the Festival the designs will be critiqued by theatre professionals on the bases of quality, effectiveness, originality, and rendering techniques.
The purpose of the KCACTF response and presentation of awards is…
to provide student designers and technicians with feedback from professionals working in the field
to give outstanding student designers and technicians national recognition
to provide the opportunity for outstanding student designers to exhibit their work at the Kennedy Center.
Designs and other allied crafts will be appraised on the basis of quality, effectiveness, originality, and visual presentation techniques.
Any student may take part in the KCACTF Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence, KCACTF Allied Design and Technology Award, and/or the KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship Program, so long as their school has entered at least one associate or participating entry during the festival year. Participants must attend their regional festival, and display the materials and documentation of their design process and execution.
One regional award recipient – a national finalist – in each area (scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, and allied crafts) will be announced at the regional festival. National finalists in scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound will be invited to exhibit their design display at the National level.
Randy Lutz Allied Design and Technology Award
The Design and Technology Exhibition gives outstanding student designers the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Regional Festival, as well as the chance to attend the KCACTF National Festival. Throughout the Festival the designs will be critiqued by theatre professionals on the bases of quality, effectiveness, originality, and rendering techniques.
The Focal Press/Rafael Jaen Showcase Award
The Focal Press/Rafael Jaen Showcase Award celebrates the contributions of the theatre practitioners making magic behind the scenes by honing their crafts. It is meant to inspire DTM practitioners and encourage their studies in the Allied Design & Technology fields. The award recipients are chosen from the eight KCACTF Regional Allied Design & Technology finalists presenting at the USITT Conference. They will receive a gift voucher to pick a selection of books at the Focal Press booth while at the USITT Conference.
Design Finals
Any student may take part in KCACTF Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence, KCACTF Allied Design and Technology Award and/or the KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship Program national programs, as long as their school has entered at least one associate or participating entry during the festival year. Participants must attend their regional festival, display their supporting materials and documentation, and attend response sessions. If you have qualified for the KCACTF Awards for Theatrical Design Excellence, KCACTF Allied Design and Technology Award and/or the KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship Program (or if you are unsure), but have not yet been contacted, please ask:
Maile Speetjens, Region 8 DTM Chair
Student designers and technicians should present those materials which most clearly tell the story of the process and evolution of the design. Supporting materials that have proven most useful include combinations of the following: a design statement in outline form, research images, preliminary sketches, white models, color models, color sketches, drafting including sections, recording of sound cues and manipulations that lead to those compositions, design bibles, story boards, costume plates, fabric and trim swatches, costume plot, cue synopsis, production photographs, tracking sheets, and the like. This is in no way meant to be a definitive list. Choose elements that best articulate and document the conceptual approach and process.
One regional award recipient – a national finalist – in each area (scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, projections, and allied crafts) will be announced at the regional festival. National finalists will be invited to exhibit their design display at the national festival.
If you are nominated for more than one design in the same category, you will need to choose which design you want to submit for consideration. If you are nominated for designs in different categories, you can present one design in each category for which you are nominated.
Please see the national KCACTF website for more information.
The Festival Registration is for the regional festival – this festival admission includes all expo entry fees, access to workshops, social events, and more: think of it as a one-price-includes-all fee.
You must be registered for the Design Gallery in order to participate. Register for the Design & Technology Gallery by submitting the form by JANUARY 15. This form can be accessed via the tabs at the top of the page.
Regional Design Projects: Realized and Theoretical Projects
Festival 57 – February 2025
Eligibility
We CELEBRATE all the diverse and innovative work being done in the nation in the areas of Design, Technology, and Management. We at KCACTF want to celebrate all your efforts in creating theatre at this time in our world today. Whether your 2024 design and technology work was fully “realized and produced” or “non- realized and non-produced”, we want you to submit your work to be showcased.
All work created in 2024 either in class or for a campus stage is eligible this year to participate in the National DTM Program and will be considered for national honors and awards.
To be eligible, students must:
- Have designed or created a technology project at their home institution in 2024.
- Be a bona fide student in 2024.
- Be registered for and attend the Regional Festival to showcase their project and participate in response sessions.
Entry categories include Scene Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Projection Design, Sound Design, and Allied Crafts and Technologies. All entries must be original designs conceived and rendered by the entrant. This year, all theoretical projects are invited to participate, including (but not limited to) some suggested titles below.
Theoretical Design Project Suggestions KCACTF 57 February 2025
Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti
Mojada by Luis Alfaro
Normal Heart by Larry Kramer
Caught by Christopher Chen
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo by Rajiv Joseph
Moscow Moscow Moscow by Halley Feiffer
Mirrors by Azure D. Osborne-Lee
Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau
Urban Rez by Larissa FastHorse
Rolling the R’s by R. Zimora Linmark
Light Switch by Dave Osmundsen’s on NPX
Rock Egg Spoon by Noah Diaz
A Lion in Winter by James Goldman
Italian American Reconciliation by John Patrick Shanley
The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe
The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson
The Golden Dragon by Roland Schimmelpfenning
Emma and the Winter Prince by Christopher Neumeyer PDF linked
Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans Book and Lyrics by Karen Zacarias and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Lyrics and Music by Stephen Trask and book by John Cameron Mitchell
Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman – Lyrics By Joe Darion, and Music by Mitch Leigh
KCACTF Design, Technology & Management Program
KCACTF Design, Technology & Management Program
Stage Management Eligibility
We CELEBRATE all the diverse and innovative work being done in the nation in the areas of Design, Technology and Management. We want to showcase all your efforts in creating theatre in this unique time in our world today. Whether your 2024 stage management work was fully “realized and produced” or “non- realized and non- produced”, we want you to submit your work to be showcased.
All work created in 2024 (either in class or for a campus stage) is eligible this year to participate in the National Stage Management Fellowship Program and will be considered for national honors and awards.
A team of theatre stage management respondents will serve as selection panelists and respond to the projects.
To be eligible, students must:
- Have stage managed or created a stage management project at their home institution in 2024
- Be a bona fide student in 2024
- Be registered for and attend the Regional Festival to showcase their project and participate in response sessions.
How to Participate
Materials to submit: This is in no way meant to be a definitive list. Choose elements that best articulate and document the approach, process, and the production. Students will present a stage management project comprised of materials which clearly tell the story of the process, evolution, rehearsal, and realization of the production. Stage Managers may include work that gives a thorough presentation of the scope and complexity of the production they stage managed. Do not include the name of your school on any of your work.
- Title card: Student’s Name, Stage Management, Title of Production by Playwright’s Name
- A letter of intent (AKA Cover Letter) including: your name, play title with playwright’s name, a brief statement of your view of the “stage manager’s approach” that includes the following information: a brief statement about how you approach stage management, why you wish to participate in the regional festival, and your future goals as a stage manager.
- Photo(s) from the production (if applicable)
- Example pages of call script and/or blocking notation, as a single PDF. Choose pages that show off your strongest work.
- Supporting materials that have proven most useful include combinations of the following: Covid guidelines, actor/character breakdown, performance & production reports, checklists, calendars, rehearsal schedule, daily schedule, tech schedule, sign-in sheets, callboard materials, contact form (please delete any personal phone numbers and email addresses), emergency contact form, cue sheets, plots, etc.
Students are responsible for their own festival registrations, DTM registration, and other forms.
Additional questions should be directed to Region 8’s Management Coordinator Shay Garber ([email protected] )
Note: Each region has it’s own regional awards and honors in DTM.
Sponsors
Barbizon Lighting Company is a long-term sponsor of national DTM KCACTF awards and the Allied Design and Technology installation at USITT.
ETC– Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
Focal Press is a proud sponsor of KCACTF, with book awards and other regional and national activities.
The Broadway Stage Management Symposium
Vectorworks is a proud sponsor of KCACTF
USITT is a proud supporter of DTM activities at the national USITT Conference.
URTA is a proud sponsor of DTM activities at the national KCACTF festival.