CANTON, Mo. — Fifteen students from the Culver-Stockton College Theatre Department are participating in the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF), taking place this week (January 18–24) in Rochester (Minn.).
ACTF is a nationally recognized program that engages more than 18,000 college theater students annually from institutions across the country. Since its founding, the festival has provided over 400,000 students with opportunities to receive professional critique, refine their artistic skills, and earn national recognition for excellence in collegiate theater. Festival productions have drawn more than 16 million audience members nationwide.
During the weeklong event, Culver-Stockton students are engaging in a variety of competitive and educational experiences, including the Irene Ryan Acting Competition; design, technology, and management competitions; 10-minute play directing; stage management and technical crew competitions; and professional workshops focused on all areas of theatrical production.
In addition to performance and technical competitions, students are meeting with representatives from professional organizations to explore graduate programs, internships, and career opportunities in the performing arts.
The American College Theatre Festival is dedicated to elevating the quality of college and university theater while celebrating innovative and diverse artistic work. The organization encourages institutions to produce new plays, including student-written works, alongside reimagined classics and experimental productions. Participation provides students with practical experience and professional insight as they prepare for careers in the theater industry.
Learn more about C-SC’s Theatre major at culver.edu/majors/theatre/ and follow the department for updates on Instagram at instagram.com/csctheatre.
Pictured in the photo is C-SC student Addi Wetzel at the ACTF in Rochester. She’s showing her costume design for “Carrie: The Musical,” which was staged Fall 2025 at C-SC.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.