91ֱ��

Photo above: Xander Brown (left) and Riko Davis (right) advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Competition at the 2026 American College Theatre Festival. They placed in the top 64 performers and were selected from more than 300 preliminary competitors.

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� theatre students were recognized with awards and experienced professional opportunities at the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) held in late January in Rochester (Minn.), highlighting the strength and versatility of the C-SC’s theatre program.

Fifteen Culver-Stockton students participated in the weeklong regional festival, which brings together hundreds of student artists from across ACTF Region 5 for performances, competitions, workshops, and networking with theatre professionals.

Riko Davis, a sophomore from Tauranga, New Zealand, and scene partner Xander Brown, a freshman from Kirksville (Mo.), advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Competition. The pair placed among the top 64 performers selected from more than 300 preliminary competitors.

C-SC students recognized with other top honors include: Micah Peterson, a junior from Madison Lake (Minn.), who earned the Student Choice Award for Best Publicity and Promotions for “Carrie the Musical.” Charlotte Hansert, a senior from Fulton (Mo.) and her team “Techtastic” captured the Student Choice Award in the Stage Crew Olympics. Addison Wetzel, a senior from Ursa (Ill.), was awarded Best Direction of an original 10-minute Play for “Firing Squad,” a production she cast, rehearsed, and directed during the festival prior to its showcase performance.

Additional honors recognized the excellence of C-SC students across multiple theatrical disciplines. Zoey Kiser, a senior from Macon (Mo.), received a Merit Award for Costume Design for the musical “The Great American Trailer Park,” while Hansert earned a Merit Award for Sound Design for the same production. Ensemble Performance Merit Awards were presented to Lora Nickel, a freshman from Green City (Mo.) and Davis for “Eurydice.” Wetzel also received a Merit Award for Properties Management and Creation for “Eurydice.”

Students were also selected for several competitive festival opportunities. Kiser was cast in the 10-minute play “Trial and Error,” chosen from more than 100 auditionees. Kyla Grose, a junior from Troy (Mo.), was selected to stage manage the 10-minute play “Manifest Destiny.” Brown, Maddison Pruitt (a senior from Bowling Green, Mo.), and Arabella Rose (a freshman from Keokuk, Iowa), participated in the Musical Theatre Intensive Competition.

Leadership roles further distinguished Culver-Stockton’s presence at the festival. Wetzel and Kiser, members of the ACTF Student Advisory Board, helped emcee the Student Choice Showcase, host the Student Improv Showcase, and serve as liaisons between students and festival leadership.

Students Brandon Arnana (freshman, Farmington, Mo.), Jaysie Báez (freshman, Canto, Puerto Rico), Kaitlyn Buckwalter (sophomore, Palmyra, Mo.), Kai Maurice (junior, Sarasota, Fla.), and Sabastion Pearson (senior, LaBelle, Mo.) were also among the C-SC students who engaged in professional development workshops covering vocal performance, movement, stage combat, and other specialized theatre skills.

For more information about C-SC’s areas of study in theatre — including theater, musical theatre, and speech and theatre education — visit /majors/.