Idaho State University Department of Theatre Wins Big at American College Theatre Festival Regional Conference

Thirteen Idaho State University Department of Theatre students attended the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) Region 7 Conference, held February 17-20 in Pasco, Washington. Students presented and competed across multiple theatrical disciplines, including the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition, Musical Theatre Initiative, Design, Technology and Management Competition, Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy (ITJA), Dramaturgy Competition, and the National Playwriting Program New Works Competition. Several students competed in more than one category.

Playwriting Honors and Acting Recognition

ISU playwrights Madison Kerr, Mireya Soto, and Leoni Gambee were named Regional Finalists in the ACTF National Playwriting Program New Works Competition.

Kerr’s 10-minute play Please Leave and Gambee’s 10-minute play The Gents were selected as two of the top six 10-minute plays in Region 7 and were presented as fully staged readings at the conference. In the one-act category, Gambee’s Flesh and Finnigan Finch and Soto’s Bad Trip were selected as two of the top four one-act plays in the region and also received staged readings.

Gambee was further honored as the Region 7 winner of the ACTF National Playwriting Program New Works Competition for Flesh and Finnigan Finch. This distinction places her in consideration for a national ACTF award in the one-act category. Recent ISU graduate Erika Semenova directed the staged reading of her play.

ISU actors Taylor Griffiths and Tru Carpenter received Best Actor recognition for their performances in the 10-minute and one-act staged readings.

Design, Stage Management, and Theatre Journalism

In addition to her playwriting honors, Mireya Soto was recognized in multiple disciplines. In the Design, Technology and Management Competition (Stage Management), she received the Heart of the Arts Award, presented “in recognition of a student who reminds us why we have chosen to dedicate our lives to sharing the artistry we have within ourselves with the rest of the world.”

Soto also competed in the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy (ITJA), earning top honors as the Region 7 winner for her critical response to La Casa Azul: Frida’s Blue House by Carlos-Manuel Chavarria. This award includes an invitation to participate in the ACTF National Conference ITJA Intensive alongside honorees from across the country.

Acting Excellence at the Irene Ryan Competition

Four ISU acting pairs competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition, a nationally recognized program honoring excellence in collegiate acting.

ISU student Hunter Angus and acting partner Rylie Price earned second place in Region 7. Their achievement places them among the top sixteen acting pairs nationwide across all eight ACTF regions. The honor includes a cash award and designation as first alternate to attend the ACTF National Conference should the first-place recipients be unable to attend.

A Reflection of Student Talent and Faculty Mentorship

The accomplishments of ISU Department of Theatre students at the ACTF Region 7 Conference reflect both the dedication of the students and the strength of the department’s training and mentorship. The department extends its gratitude to the College of Arts and Letters and its leadership for providing travel grants that made student participation possible.

 ISU Theatre Student Honors – ACTF Region 7 (2026)

National Playwriting Program – New Works Competition

• Leoni Gambee – Region 7 Winner (One-Act Category) for Flesh and Finnigan Finch (Advances to national consideration)
  
  
• Leoni Gambee – Regional Finalist (One-Act Category)
  
  
• Mireya Soto – Regional Finalist (One-Act Category) for Bad Trip
  
  
• Madison Kerr – Regional Finalist (10-Minute Play Category) for Please Leave
  
  
• Leoni Gambee – Regional Finalist (10-Minute Play Category) for The Gents

Acting Recognition (Staged Readings)

• Taylor Griffiths – Best Actor Recognition
  
  
• Tru Carpenter – Best Actor Recognition

Design, Technology & Management Competition

• Mireya Soto – Heart of the Arts Award (Stage Management)
  
  

Institute for Theatre Journalism & Advocacy (ITJA)

• Mireya Soto – Region 7 Winner
  
  
• Invitation to the ACTF National Conference ITJA Intensive

Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition

• Hunter Angus & Rylie Price – Second Place, Region 7
  
  
• Top 16 acting pairs nationally across all ACTF regions
  
  
• First Alternate for ACTF National Conference