Theatre UAB’s “SFB” invited to perform at Kennedy Center festival Feb. 2-6

Students and faculty earned more than two dozen award nominations and were invited to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Region IV Festival. A free matinee of the production is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, in UAB's Alys Stephens Center.
SFB honoredCast and crew of Theatre UAB's production of "SFB"

Theatre UAB's production of “SFB” has been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Region IV Festival from Feb. 2-6, 2016, in Charleston, South Carolina. Before departing for the competition, Theatre UAB will present a free matinee of “SFB” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, in the Sirote Theatre at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. The performance is open to the public. 

“SFB” is the seventh consecutive Theatre UAB production to be chosen for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Region IV Festival, says Kelly Allison, chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of Theatre. The regional competition includes colleges from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“The production was selected from a competitive pool of 30 productions produced at colleges and universities throughout our 13-state region,” Allison said. “Our success in this competition is confirmation that the UAB Department of Theatre is one of the premier undergraduate theater training programs in the United States. The department’s success in KCACTF is unparalleled in the state of Alabama. I’m very proud of our faculty, staff and students for this accomplishment.”      

More than 15 students and six faculty and staff were nominated for KCACTF awards. Theatre UAB’s KCACTF nominations include:

Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships (regional finalists will advance to the national festival)

  • Carla Maureen Smith of Birmingham and Olivia Skillern of Madison for “In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)”      
  • Alicia Batterson of Columbus, Ohio, and Russell E. Alexander II of Montgomery for “Avenue Q”            
  • Diego Faulkner of Birmingham and Madelyn Burrell of Warrior for “Dancing at Lughnasa”         
  • Alex Ingram of Birmingham; Seth Burgess of Warrior; and Alora King of Boonsboro, Maryland, for “SFB”          

Barbizon Costume Design

  • Samantha Helms of Corner for “Avenue Q”            
  • Phoebe Miller of Birmingham for “SFB”

Barbizon Lighting Design

  • Elliot Johnson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, for “Dancing at Lughnasa”

Allied Design and Technologies

  • Jessica L. Mathews for technical direction of “In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)” and “SFB”

National Stage Management

  • Victoria J. Morales of Priceville for “In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)” and “SFB”  
  • Lauren Edwards of Chelsea for “Avenue Q”          
  • Rachel A. Walsh of Johns Creek, Georgia, for “Dancing at Lughnasa” 

National Dramaturgy

  • Kristen Ciancio of Charleston, South Carolina, for “Dancing at Lughnasa”      

Recognition for Faculty Designs

  • Scenic: Cliff Simon for “Avenue Q” and “SFB”
  • Scenic: Ed Zuckerman for “In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)”
  • Lighting design: Kelly Allison for “SFB”

Recognition for Faculty Directors