Earlier this year, St. Ambrose University senior Jaren Shoustra earned the opportunity of a lifetime. At the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region 5 final awards ceremony, it was announced that Schoustra won the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy competition.
Her exceptional writing portfolio, which she had written while spending the week in Sioux Falls, SD, was then up for selection against the seven other regional winners. At the beginning of March, Schoustra received confirmation that she was one of the four writers that had qualified for the national festival, which is held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. each spring. Read Schoustra's submissions to KCACTF: an interview with a faculty member/artist; reviews of Enemy of the People and Be More Chill; and a "think piece."
"I was floored," Schoustra said. "I went into this experience thinking I would learn a lot and build some new relationships with the SAU Theatre Department. I'm new to theatre and knew I'd be in a room full of people whose specialty was theatre, so I pretty much disregarded the whole competition element of the week. I poured so much of myself into everything I wrote; I can't tell you how validating it was to be selected. I soared. I believe in myself a little bit more now."
While Schoustra's accomplishment was a moment of exquisite bliss, just two weeks later all her plans had changed. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the Kennedy Center announced that it had canceled the 2020 national festival. This means Schoustra and all the other students who qualified for the festival in their various events would not be allowed to attend.
"I was crushed but glad they canceled," Schoustra said. "If they hadn't, I don't know that I would have gone just because it's too important to do whatever we can to keep people safe right now. A lot of us are missing out on a lot of things. Just the fact that I was selected has been keeping my spirits up, but it definitely gets me down when I think about the fact that I was supposed to be taking a plane to D.C. next week rather than watching SpongeBob in my sweatpants during quarantine."
While it remains to be seen whether or not they will make virtual accommodations to host the national festival this year, Schoustra still enjoyed the process as she lives for creative collaboration.
"Throughout this process, I learned to appreciate theatre journalism and criticism in a way I hadn't before," Schoustra said. "Our instructor said to us on the first day: ‘You are the arbiters of taste.' There's little point in sharing art if nobody talks about it. Theater critics host the public conversation. I learned that I'm good at theater journalism, and that there's incredible meaning to this thing that I'm good at. I'm so appreciative of everything I learned from my fellow student writers."
While the Department is incredibly saddened for Schoustra that she will not be able to attend the festival this year, everyone could not be prouder of her accomplishment. In fact, her first-place finish was a massive celebration for all.
"If I had to pick a favorite memory, it would definitely be the night I was awarded first place," Schoustra said. "I looked down my aisle of seats to see my school's entire Theatre Department going nuts after they called my name. Thanks for the buzz, bees!"
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