Linfield students (L-R): Abbie Northrup, Hadley Nelson and Alea Tran
Linfield University’s theatre program earned a series of awards from the 2022 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region VII thanks to a trio of students. The event, held online Feb. 14-19, recognizes top theatre programs in nine states.
Earning recognition from Linfield University were Abbie Northrop ’22, Alea Tran ’23 and Hadley Nelson ’25.
Northrop, a chemistry and mathematics double major from Bend, took first place in the Design Technology and Management Competition for Sound Design thanks to their work on the 2021 production of “Treasure Island.” Northrop’s design will compete with other regional winners in the national online festival happening in April.
For the production, Northrop strategically placed speakers in the audience, as well as a cluster of speakers under the stage, to differentiate what the audience heard versus what the characters heard on stage. They used period-appropriate underscoring, sea shanties and atmospheric cues to enhance the storytelling happening on stage.
Tran ’23, a psychology and theatre arts double major from Shoreline, Washington, earned top honors in the Undergraduate Scholarly Paper Competition. Tran’s paper, “Examining Ibsen’s Critique of Gender Expectations in A Doll House,” shared first place with a student from the University of Wyoming. This is the second consecutive first place honor for Tran in this competition, earning first last year for their paper titled, “The Onnagata: A Reflection of Edo Period Views of Femininity,” which explored Japanese kabuki theatre during from 1600 to the mid-1800s.
Tran also received a Certificate of Achievement for their sound design entry in the Design Technology and Management Competition for their work on “The Deal of a Lifetime.”
Linfield’s theatre program also received honors for acting. Nelson, a first-year student from Dallas, Oregon, was selected as a semi-finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Only 32 students were chosen as semi-finalists out of more than 200 nominees who submitted an audition performance.
“What an achievement!” said Joe Wilferth, dean of Linfield’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Such recognition points to the creativity and success of our theatre students, as it likewise reflects the outstanding teaching and mentorship of our faculty. I’m very proud of our students and our faculty.”
Linfield’s theatre students return to the stage April 21-May 1 for the live production of “Heathers the Musical,” in collaboration with the Department of Music and with support from the Lacroute Arts Series. More information on upcoming performances can be found at www.linfield.edu/arts.