Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival

The Department of Theatre and Dance has a long history of involvement and success with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Over the last couple decades, KC/ACTF has recognized dozens of designers, choreographers and directors from WIU for their excellence. Hundreds of Western Illinois University students have been nominated for the Irene Ryan Foundation Acting Scholarship and three of them have advanced to the National Finals: Shawn Durr in 1986, Nick Vienna in 2006 and Kelli Crump in 2007.

Nick Viane

Two Western Illinois University faculty members, Gene Kozlowski and Michael Swanson, have been recipients of the KC/ACTF Region III Gold Medallion Award of Excellence in recognition of their extraordinary service to educational theatre in the region. WIU President Dr. Alvin Goldfarb is also a past recipient of this award. Professor Tim Kupka served three years as Regional Design Chair, and Associate Professor Bill Kincaid is currently Illinois State Chair.

Three WIU productions have been invited to the regional festival in the last ten years, including The Great American Justice Game in 1998, Marat/Sade in 2001, and Stud Ducks and Horny Toads in 2005.


Our department’s faculty members stay active in the region as volunteers, responding to productions and offering workshops at the festival.