Image: UGA Department of Theatre and Film is proudly celebrating student and faculty nominations and honors at the 2026 Region IV Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF IV), which will be held Feb. 3–7 at Auburn University–Montgomery in partnership with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. One of the department’s standout achievements comes from fourth-year theatre major and playwright Wyn Alyse Thomas, whose full-length musical First Semester has been invited for production at this year’s regional festival. First Semester was originally produced during UGA Theatre’s 2023–2024 season after winning the New Georgia Group Award, an honor established by alumni to support student projects that embody freethinking and originality. The production quickly garnered recognition, earning both the David Shelton Award for Full Length Playwriting and the National Partners of the American Theatre Award at KCACTF Region IV. The play went on to compete at the National KCACTF Festival in Washington, D.C., where it placed second in both the National Student Playwriting Award and the Musical Theatre Award—an especially remarkable accomplishment given that most recipients of these prizes are graduate students in MFA programs. Now, First Semester returns to Region IV, with a cast made up entirely of UGA students, including several who were part of its original Athens production. Your contributions to the UGA Theatre & Film Fund directly support student travel in addition to other experiential learning opportunities for our students. Student performers and designers continue to shine at KCACTF. Last year, Garrett McCord won first place in the Musical Theatre Initiative for his performance of “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton. This season, UGA faculty and guest artists have also been recognized. Faculty Certificate of Merit nominations include: Julie Ray, Scenic Design (John Proctor is the Villain) George Contini, Director, Theatre & Film (9 to 5) Daniel Ellis, Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Director (Murder on the Orient Express) Lindsey Giedl, Choreographer, Department of Dance, (9 to 5) Atty Siegel, Stage Combat and Intimacy Coordination (9 to 5) David Saltz, Media Design, Theatre & Film (Murder on the Orient Express) Additionally, stage management faculty Chelsea Taylor has been appointed Regional Stage Management Coordinator for KCACTF IV. Student Nominees by Production: 9 to 5 Dramaturgy: Dyllon Glaze Lighting Design: Jacob Yurkovich Performance: Kaitlyn Talsky, Bianca Cardona, Reagan Simmons Scenic Design: Erin Callaghan Sound Design: Nina Blair Allied Design & Technologies: Cody Russell (props) John Proctor is the Villain Director: Sloan Garner Costume Design: Nathan Dingess Dramaturgy: Bridget Blanchard Lighting Design: Andres Valencia Performance: Bella Smith, Alyssa Halford, Alex Cheeks Scenic Design: Brielle Sanders Sound Design: Jeannie Thomas Stage Management: Sidney Phillips Allied Design & Technologies: Cicley Osbourne (projections/media) The Art of Noticing Directing: Olivia Vicos Lighting Design: Jack Collins Performance: Mitchell King, Samara McKnight Costume Design: Jenna Gubran Stage Management: Lane Whorton Scenic Design: Jordan Harris Sound Design: Nina Blair Allied Design & Technologies: Jordan Harris (props) Murder on the Orient Express Performance: Jenna Gubran, Abigail McWethy Student Scenic Design: Cody Russell Student Lighting Design: D. Connor McVey Student Costume Design: Erin Callaghan Student Sound Design: Joel Abbott Student Dramaturgy: Arushi Raza Student Director: Kyndel Smith Allied Design: Lindsey Taylor (props) Additional Student Nominations Dramaturgy: Jessica Sager, Arushi Raza
