After winning first place in Scenic Theatrical Design in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region III Competition, Kasee Arnett, an MFA design candidate from Michigan State University, earned a spot to compete in the national competition in which she received the Distinguished Achievement Award along with a $500 cash prize.

Arnett attended the KCACTF virtual ceremony on May 21 and was recognized for her set design for the MSU Department of Theatre’s production of "A Contemporary American’s Guide to a Successful Marriage" © 1959. The KCACTF ceremony was initially scheduled to take place in person at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and later transitioned to an online format due to COVID-19 protocols.

“Being online takes the pressure off of in-person presentations, so for that reason I was relieved, but it’s not as fun and educational as an in-person experience would’ve been in terms of the workshops and networking,” Arnett said. “I’m just tickled to death that I even placed.”

Written by Robert Bastron, MSU’s Department of Theatre premiered "A Contemporary American’s Guide to a Successful Marriage" © 1959 at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts last October. Set in the 1950s, Bastron’s satirical comedy follows the turbulent relationships of two young couples before and after their decision to get married. 

With the assistance of the MSU Scene Shop, a resource facility on campus that supplies students with the equipment and technology for set construction, Arnett worked alongside a technical team of two faculty members and five students to produce the set over the course of two and a half months.

For the full story, visit cal.msu.edu