SVSU student from Bay City shines on Midwest theatre stage

2017 Jan 25

Saginaw Valley State University students turned their passion for theatre and strong work ethic into performances that earned praise and top honors - including an invitation to a national competition - during a festival featuring students from across the Midwest.

SVSU theatre students competed during the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region III Jan. 10-14 in Indianapolis. The event includes colleges and universities from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Jacob Kaufman, of Bay City, won the first-ever Region III Arts Management Fellowship at the festival, which earned him an invitation to travel to the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington D.C. April 16-22. Ric Roberts, SVSU professor of theatre, served as chairman of the organization's Region III festival. He called Kaufman "one of the hardest working students I have ever encountered." .

Ric Roberts, SVSU professor of theatre, served as chairman of the organization's Region III festival. He said SVSU students spent about one month rehearsing the material they performed at the festival.

"The level of dedication and determination is high," Roberts said. "This, of course, is all happening while they are working on SVSU productions, too."

He said the festival exposed his theatre students to talented peers from across the Midwest.

"Going to the regional festival, they get a chance to see not only where the stack up against their peers, but also how SVSU can compete with the best of them," Roberts said.