Morningside College students were honored recently at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Des Moines, Iowa.

Morningside College students were honored recently at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Des Moines, Iowa.

The festival showcased outstanding work in the region and featured a wide range of professional development opportunities in all areas of theater.

The following students were nominated to participate in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition after festival representatives saw their performances at Morningside College: Amy Jackson of Fort Myers, Fla.; Joey Volquartsen of Stanton, Iowa; Engels Perez Boscan of Caracas, Venezuela; Allison Linafelter of Sioux City; and Brock Bourek of Columbus, Neb. They competed with acting partners Kailyn Robert of Osage City, Kan.; Grant Turner of Moville, Iowa; Eric Wells of Mineola, Iowa; and Madison Schueth of Fremont, Neb.

Morgan Polenske of Randolph, Neb., received an award for her scenic design. Annalee Dorsey of Kansas City, Kan., participated in the stage management and scenic design competitions, and Erica Young of Fayette, Iowa, participated in the costume design competition.

In addition, the cast and crew of Morningside’s production of “The Princess and the Pea” received an award in the category of ensemble performance.

Jackson was accepted into a musical theater intensive where she worked with Broadway choreographers and directors to prepare for a show they later performed at the conference. Dorsey, Young and Volquartsen participated in professional interviews with theater companies, and all of the students got a chance to meet and network with professionals from the region and from across the nation.