Trinity Students to Participate in Theatre Festival for 10th Consecutive Year
On January 6-10, 2026, twelve Trinity students will participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Madison, Wisconsin. The trip marks the tenth consecutive year of Trinity attendance at the festival. Professor Emma Schneider will accompany the students and serve as the regional chair for the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy at this year’s festival, the part of the festival that focuses on writing about theatre.
KCACTF gives participants an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of facets of theatre production and reception. The festival website notes, “There’s something for everyone: aspiring playwrights, actors, directors, designers, dramaturgs, critics, technicians, crafts artisans and more.” Trinity’s students have taken part in many of these offerings over the years and will do so again in January. Andy Acosta, a returning participant, appreciates the range of activities offered at KCACTF: “The learning experience is something really special. There are workshops about anything theatre from professionals in that field. You can learn a lot from being in a room with talented people. The shows we get to see performed by other schools are always so amazing, and seeing people in their element is always a gift.”
This year’s cohort of students from Trinity includes eight students who have attended the festival before and four first-timers. Ashley Yonkman, another of the returning students, is looking forward to being back at the collaborative and supportive festival, “One of my favorite experiences at KCACTF is the opportunity to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders. I have loved being able to attend presentations and acting competitions for everyone in our group and supporting them through it—having the opportunity to celebrate with each other before and after those moments. It’s really just a week of celebration, and an opportunity to see the gifts of each other well.”
The fall announcement that Trinity Christian College will be closing after the end of the academic year puts this year’s KCACTF in a unique light. While Trinity’s last semester promises to maintain the traditions of other recent spring semesters, for Acosta this year’s festival has added significance, “I am most looking forward to spending Trin’s last time at KCACTF with such a talented and fun group of people. We have so much fun wherever we go, and I know we’ll appreciate every moment.”
