SFCC Students Recognized at Region 5 Theatre Festival

Twenty students from State Fair Community College earned top honors and recognition for performance and technical work.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:55am

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Twenty State Fair Community College students attended the Region 5 American College Theater Festival in January, earning top honors and recognition for performance and technical work. Students competed in performance and design events, participated in workshops, and attended productions from across the region.

Why it matters

The American College Theater Festival is a prestigious national program that provides college theater students opportunities to showcase their talents, receive feedback, and gain national recognition. SFCC's strong showing at the regional festival highlights the quality of their theater program and the achievements of its students.

The details

At the festival, SFCC students earned individual honors, including Gwen Smith winning the Region 5 Publicity Recognition Award, Brady Morgan and Jon Molin being selected to perform in the Musical Theatre Intensive Showcase, and Aalayah Kirkpatrick advancing to the semifinal round of the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. The SFCC Theatre Program also received 15 Certificates of Merit from regional respondents for productions staged during the 2025 academic year, recognizing excellence in areas like ensemble performance, design, and direction.

  • The Region 5 American College Theater Festival took place in January 2026.
  • SFCC students attended the week-long festival.

The players

Gwen Smith

A freshman pursuing an associate degree in art at SFCC, she received the Region 5 Publicity Recognition Award and earned first place in the publicity category at the Design, Technology and Management Expo.

Brady Morgan

An SFCC student selected to perform in the Musical Theatre Intensive Showcase at the festival.

Jon Molin

An SFCC student selected to perform in the Musical Theatre Intensive Showcase at the festival.

Aalayah Kirkpatrick

An SFCC student who advanced to the semifinal round of the Irene Ryan Acting Competition, placing among the top 64 performers out of approximately 300 participants.

SFCC Theatre Program

The theater program at State Fair Community College, which received 15 Certificates of Merit from regional respondents for productions staged during the 2025 academic year.

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The takeaway

SFCC's strong showing at the prestigious Region 5 American College Theater Festival demonstrates the quality and excellence of the school's theater program, as well as the talent and achievements of its students. This recognition highlights the opportunities the festival provides for college theater students to showcase their skills and gain national attention.