Dordt Theatre Arts Students receive Honors at Festival

Dordt University’s Theatre Department received awards this year at The American College Theatre Festival.

Four Dordt students submitted auditions for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Sam Landstra and Johnanna Gross made it to the semifinal round, with Landstra going on to the final round.

“Sam advanced with a monologue and scene that were developed in the Fundamentals of Acting class, a testament to the growth that happens in the classroom and manifests on our stages,” says Laurel Koerner, chair of the Theatre Arts Department. “Sam approaches acting with exceptional rigor and disciplined professionalism; he's a joy to work with as an instructor and director.”

Dordt students Hannah Vanderhooft, Christianna Marcy, and Hayden Houtsma submitted work to the design expo and received responses from professionals in respective fields. Marcy’s costumes for “Break of Day” were selected for inclusion in the Costume Parade. She also received the Jane Childs Award for first time presenters and has the opportunity to attend the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas this summer.

“We like to say we're doing ‘Division I theatre,’” says Koerner. “There are no distinctions at the regional or national level between us and large state schools with massive theatre programs. To see our students competing and keeping pace with those from larger programs demonstrates the value of the individualized attention they receive here.”

Certificates of merit were given for work on the following respective Dordt productions.

Peter and the Starcatcher

Gerrit VanDyk for Graphic Design

Robin Suing for Marketing

Hannah Landman for Properties Design

The Diviners

Lindsay Kuiper for Sound Design

Hannah Vanderhooft for Stage Management

Teresa Ter Haar for Direction

To learn more about Dordt's theatre program visit dordt.edu/theatre-arts.

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Dordt, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. To learn more, visit dordt.edu.