Dec 2024 News - Deadline for Kaleidoscope Approaches

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WSCTA Publicity
December 23, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE...

KALEIDOSCOPE DEADLINE APPROACHES!

Festival - February 13-15, 2025

Theatre Registration now $100!

Kaleidoscope comes to Spokane, WA, hosted by Stage Left Theater at the Magnuson Theater at Gonzaga University. Thanks to the Tourism and Cultural Incentive Grant and the SAGA grant, which Kaleidoscope is funded by, we were able to lower theatre registration to $100. Huge thanks to the City of Spokane and Spokane Arts for recognizing the importance of this festival!

Don’t miss out registering your theatre. Kaleidoscope is a time to shine! Showcase your theatre and mingle with thespians around the state. We want to see you!

Theaters from across the state will converge on Spokane, Washington for the biennial community theater festival and competition. Well now it’s our turn to play host for the state leg of the cycle!

Any amateur theatre that has been organized for at least one year prior to the state festival, and has produced at least two shows prior to the state festival is eligible to enter the festival process. You do not have to have performed your competition piece prior.

Our Sponsors

“PASS OVER” SHOWCASE

Stage Left will present us with their Nationally award winning show on February 13th to kick off performances! You’ll recall a little show called Pass Over which competed in –and won– the state, regional, and national AACTfest awards in 2023.

Stage Left Theater accept the top award for Overall Outstanding Production at AACTFest 2023 in Louisville, KY.

National Awards Won

  • Overall Outstanding Production - Pass Over, Stage Left Theater

  • Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Performance - Pass Over - Stage Left Theater, Dahveed Bullis, Matthew Slater, & Danny Anderson

  • Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Malcolm Pelles - Pass Over, Stage Left Theater

  • Best Moment - the Plague Sequence, Alana Shepherd, - Pass Over, Stage Left Theater

Stage Left Theater perform Pass Over at AACTFest 2023

MEET THE ADJUDICATORS

DENNIS YSLAS

Dennis Yslas - has adjudicated for American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) at the State, Regional and National levels. He was one of 6 adjudicators selecting the advancing shows to Virtual AACTFest in 2021 from a pool of 34 entries. He was an Adjudicator for AACT YouthFest 2019 in Gettysburg, PA and the alternate adjudicator for AACTFest 2017 in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his AACT Adjudication certification in 2001 in Memphis, TN. His first AACT experience was in 1993 when he Stage Managed a production of SIX WOMEN WITH BRAIN DEATH... produced by Theatre Arlington, Arlington, TX. Dennis is a member of Actors’ Equity Association - the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers. He is the Executive Director for Theatre Network of Texas, Inc. He has been an actor for over 40 years - having started his career on the BOZO -THE CLOWN show and is an award winning actor and director in the Dallas - Fort Worth, TX area.

ALYSON E. SOMA

Alyson E. Soma has been involved in some form of theatre and supporting the Arts since she first “won” the role of Paddington Bear in her second-grade class. After graduating from the University of Washington, Alyson made her home here in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) where she immersed herself in the vibrant, local, community theatre scene.

Acting was her first love and she could be seen in local theatres from Edmonds to Tacoma. In her twenties, she discovered the joy of directing and has since proudly helmed numerous shows. Her acting and directing has allowed her to work at wonderful community and professional theatres in the PNW: Valley Community Players, Bellevue Civic Theatre, Driftwood Players, Renton Civic Theatre, SecondStory Repertory, Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma Actors Guild, Rosebud Conservatory, Lakewood Playhouse, and Centerstage.

In January 2000, Alyson joined with local celebrity Kent Phillips and opened Bellevue Civic Theatre which delighted audiences for 13 years. As the Associate Artistic Director, she had the opportunity to act, direct, produce, market, and promote theatre. During that time, she also spent five years as the Marketing Manager for Seattle Public Theatre.

Alyson is also a voice-over talent with many radio and television credits, a Northwest Soundie Award winner and a NW Emmy ® nominee. She is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).

Believing that garnering support for the Arts is equally important, Alyson served two terms as a Federal Way Arts Commissioner and one term as a Governor-appointed Director on the Washington State Convention Center Arts Foundation. She also had the pleasure of serving on the Washington State Department of Transportation’s committee to interview and select the artists to be commissioned for the Federal Way downtown light rail station.

In 2013 and 2015 Alyson was an adjudicator for Region 9 AACTFest and in 2019 had the honor of adjudicating the Region 9 AACTFest Semi-finals. Between 2013-2016 she was invited every year to judge the Festival of Shorts at Driftwood Players in Edmonds.

Alyson is a marketing professional who has worked in for profit and non-profit environments. She graduated in 2023 with her Master of Social Work (MSW) and is currently working at Kennedy Catholic High School as both the Director of Marketing and Communications and the school social worker as she earns her hours for full LICSW licensure. Last year at Kennedy Catholic, she directed her first high school production and absolutely loved working with students. She lives in Federal Way with her husband and adorable labradoodle Maximus.

CHRIS HANSEN

Chis Hansen holds an M.A. in Theatrical Production from Central Washington University. He has worked professionally for 13 years as an actor, designer, director and technician at theatres across the region. He is a collegiate educator in the field with over 10 years experience teaching. Chris is found full-time at SFCC, Whitworth, and part time at Gonzaga simultaneously. He is a NISOD award recipient, and local playwright. He collects comics in his spare time and does stand-up comedy and burlesque on occasion.

 

SWAG PREVIEW

We will offer a variety of swag to take home memories of the 2025 festival. Available for purchase at the festival. More items will be added soon!

HOTEL DISCOUNTS

We are pleased to offer TWO Hotels at discounted rates for Kaleidoscope attendees.

Hotel Indigo   (in the heart of downtown!)

Discover the vibrant history of downtown Spokane with modern comforts and warm hospitality at Hotel Indigo Spokane Downtown. Our prime location near Gonzaga University and the Spokane Convention Center in the heart of Spokane’s arts and entertainment district offers easy access to local attractions. Enjoy a live performance at The Knitting Factory, The Fox Theater, or The Bing Crosby Theatre. If you prefer to be outdoors, visit the iconic Riverfront Park or witness the natural beauty of Spokane Falls. Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi and stay productive in our 24-hour fitness center. Host meetings in our sophisticated spaces and enjoy the convenience of valet parking. Your Spokane adventure awaits!

BOOK HERE AND MENTION YOU'RE WITH KALEIDOSCOPE FOR $99 ROOMS!

Courtyard by Marriot   (close to the event, between downtown and Gonzaga's campus.)

$159 King rooms for Kaleidoscope attendees!

PRINCESS THEATRE IS HIRING

Princess Theatre is looking for a Marketing & Communications Director. This role combines creativity, strategy, and technical expertise to enhance the theater's visibility, build audience engagement, and drive revenue through effective branding, promotional campaigns, and public relations efforts. This flexible, hybrid role is expected to average 15-20 hours per week, with work completed both in-office and remotely as needed. Pay is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Visit https://www.prosserprincess.com/work-with-us to view the full job posting.

This posting is open until filled. Resumes and letters of interest should be emailed to [email protected]

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

It is time for all individual and organizational members whose membership was for the 2022-2024 cycle to renew now. WSCTA memberships are for two-year periods, beginning in August of every even year and ending in July two years later.

Individuals and organizations vote for the Kaleidoscope WSCTA member awards and board elections at the general meeting. Memberships are available for organizations and individuals. Benefits of membership include: access to resources and a network of theatre artists statewide. We share best practices and resources with each other as members. Event Access to different WSCTA activities including the retreat. Ability to compete at Kaleidoscope. Promotion of your theatre - members may submit stories for us to share across social media and our newsletter.

Welcome New and Recurring Members

WHY KALEIDOSCOPE?!

Does your theater company have a show they’d like to bring to compete? There are a few requirements:

1. Your theater must be a member of AACT (American Association of Community Theatres) and of the WSCTA (Washington State Community Theatre Association) in order to compete.

2. Any amateur theatre that has been organized for at least one year prior to the state festival, and has produced at least two shows prior to the state festival is eligible to enter the festival process. You do not have to have performed your competition piece prior.

The goals of Kaleidoscope and AACTfest are:

- To provide an optimum learning experience through festival entry, which affirms, supports, and nurtures community theatre companies as they strive toward excellence in theatrical productions.

- To stimulate and inspire community theatre companies to strive for the best work possible and to recognize them for their achievement through an appropriate adjudication process.

- To provide a learning experience in artistic, technical, and management areas for people in attendance through performances, adjudication, and workshops.

- To develop enlightened and discerning audiences for community theatre.

Many criteria are in place to achieve the aforementioned goals. Among the most significant are:

- All theatre companies must meet the same eligibility standards and requirements.

- Maximum time limits are 60 minutes performance time; 10 minutes set-up time and 10 minutes strike time.

- Qualified and impartial adjudicators are essential to the success and fairness of the festival process.

HOST KALEIDOSCOPE 2027

Hosting is a great way to introduce new audience members to your theatre. Theatres from across the state will converge on your town. Receive publicity, network and showcase your theatre with this festival.

Email [email protected] to learn more.

SHARE YOUR STORIES & PHOTOS

Share your theatre stories with us so we can feature them in an upcoming newsletter.

Send your photos, stories, events and articles to our Vice President, Christy Valle - [email protected]