Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center Community Theatre Encore Players won several awards at the American Association of Community Theatre Festival National competition. Pictured: Director Joshua Schorejs, and Cast Members Gregory Magyar, James Duncan, and Trenton Stephenson.
Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center (KVPAC) Community Theatre Encore Players represented Region VI at the American Association of Community Theatre Festival (AACTFest) National competition in Rochester, MN this weekend with its production of “Answers” by Tom Topor.
Several awards of special distinction were awarded to the KVPAC “Answers” cast and crew. Joshua Schorejs won the “Outstanding Achievement in Direction;” Kari Perez, KVPAC’s Theatre Production Manager, accepted the award for “Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design;” and James Duncan received the award for “Outstanding Achievement in a Supporting Role.” Trenton Stephenson was also nominated for this award. Gregory Magyar, KVPAC’s Executive Artistic Director, was nominated for Best Actor and “Answers” was nominated for Best Show overall.
“KVPAC is honored to have represented our growing community at the AACT National Festival,” said Magyar, “and to have finished in the top 4 out of 12 theatres in the competition.”
The journey began when KVPAC won the Texas AACTFest at TNT’s Annual Conference in March, followed by another win at the Region VI AACTFest in April. At the National AACTFest Competition this week, KVPAC competed against the best community theater groups in the United States. Twelve community theaters, the winners of their state and regional contests, will brought their productions to Rochester, MN.
“Answers” is a short play about a man (James Duncan) having been detained for questioning, in a crime about which he claims to know nothing, and is grilled by two persistent police officers (Gregory Magyar and Trenton Stephenson).
They call him “Byron” (although he insists this is not his name) and their initially bantering attitude turns steadily more ominous as they attempt to force a confession. Ultimately, in a scene of shattering intensity, they succeed-but disturbing questions linger. Have justice and truth indeed been served? Or has another hapless victim been sacrificed to society’s inexorable need for retribution at any cost?
KVPAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing arts education and experience to the community of Katy and the surrounding area. Donations to support the arts in our community can be made at www.kvpac.org or mailed to KVPAC, 2501 S. Mason Road #290, Katy, Texas 77450.