Dr. Feffer awarded Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for Excellence
Contact: Diana Hearit
Feb. 5, 2018
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Faculty and Student Awards
English Department faculty member Dr. Steve Feffer was awarded the Gold Medallion for Excellence in Theatre Education from the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 13th, 2018. Professor Feffer, who has been at WMU for fourteen years, is a professionally produced and published playwright who primarily teaches courses in playwriting and dramatic literature.
In addition, three English Department graduate playwriting students claimed regional and national awards at the same Kennedy Center Festival. Darcy Sturges (MFA) is a national semi-finalist for her ten minute play “Fatberg"; Amber Palmer is a national semi-finalist, also in the ten-minute play category for “The Speedy Gonzales Turtle Sanctuary"; and Tucker Rafferty (MFA) is a national semi-finalist in the one act play category “Just Suppose". In addition Darcy Sturges is a national finalist for the Planet Earth Award for a new play that explores sustainability with “Fatberg". Of the six new play awards given at the festival four were for WMU playwrights, whose work was selected from over 120 plays from college-age playwrights in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. These plays are now under consideration for further development at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Art’s founding chairman, the Kennedy Center American College Theater (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States.
KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents.
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About the Gold Medallion Award: According the to the Kennedy Center: "Each year, the eight KCACTF regions honor individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of KCACTF and to excellence in educational theatre. It is the most prestigious regional award given by KCACTF and is considered one of the great honors in theatre education”.
Source: Steve Feffer, professor, English
Contact if questions: Molly Goaley, marketing specialist, College Arts and Sciences