The SBVC Theatre Arts Department was recently recognized in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Los Angeles.  Theatre faculty member Melinda Fogle advised, directed, and accompanied the acting nominees, saying, "My trip to the KCACTF was one that I will never forget... it was one of the most phenomenal and surreal experiences I've ever had."  

This year’s festival was the 5th attended by SBVC and the department continues to shine brighter and brighter each year. For Monica Hart who has been a loyal attendee in the recent years said that this trip was "by far the most enlightening and rewarding experience." Each year, the festival presents a prompt and invites colleges to prepare a devised piece inspired by the prompt. The festival prompt was “Admittance without papers is forbidden,” and Valley theatre students entered their performance “The Journeys to Build a Home” into the Festival.

This first-ever devised piece entered by SBVC went on to win the Region’s Devised Competition.  In addition to the high honor, SBVC Theatre won a Tectonic Theatre Artist Residency Workshop.  Tectonic is the theatre group world-renowned for their creation of The Laramie Project.

SBVC students also participated in the Irene Ryan Acting Auditions and the Stage Management presentations, SBVC students had the opportunity to audition to be a part of various performances that were rehearsed and performed during the festival.

Alejandro Sotelo and Pacifique Kabanda performed in Voire Dire, which went on to win an award in the New Plays Competition. Monica Hart performed in a short play entitled Value. The students also auditioned to be a part of the Music Theatre International Cabaret.  In a new first for SBVC, Mathew Braxton and Pacifique Kabanda were cast in the Cabaret as dancers.  Mathew Braxton and Alejandro Sotelo were also cast in devised pieces created and performed during the week of the festival, with Mathew’s piece winning an award. 


The Kennedy Center Festival is a golden opportunity for our students, and our students work very hard in Valley productions to be considered for a KC nomination so they can participate in the festival.  This group spent hours upon hours rehearsing and fundraising for Festival. These students have shown their commitment, passion and artistic bravery.

They represented the department, the college, and San Bernardino, and they will bring all of their experiences and knowledge back to our college and community to share.