--- title: Dordt Theatre Arts Students receive Honors at Festival date: 2022-03-24T00:00:00-05:00 author: Jordan Eshelman canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-theatre-arts-students-receive-honors-at-festival" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Notable](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=notable) [Theatre Arts](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=theatre-arts) Mar 24, 2022 # Dordt Theatre Arts Students receive Honors at Festival The American College Theatre Festival presents honors to Dordt students ![]()Dordt University’s Theatre Department received awards this year at The American College Theatre Festival. Four Dordt students submitted auditions for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Sam Landstra and Johnanna Gross made it to the semifinal round, with Landstra going on to the final round. “Sam advanced with a monologue and scene that were developed in the Fundamentals of Acting class, a testament to the growth that happens in the classroom and manifests on our stages,” says Laurel Koerner, chair of the Theatre Arts Department. “Sam approaches acting with exceptional rigor and disciplined professionalism; he's a joy to work with as an instructor and director.” Dordt students Hannah Vanderhooft, Christianna Marcy, and Hayden Houtsma submitted work to the design expo and received responses from professionals in respective fields. Marcy’s costumes for “Break of Day” were selected for inclusion in the Costume Parade. She also received the Jane Childs Award for first time presenters and has the opportunity to attend the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas this summer. “We like to say we're doing ‘Division I theatre,’” says Koerner. “There are no distinctions at the regional or national level between us and large state schools with massive theatre programs. To see our students competing and keeping pace with those from larger programs demonstrates the value of the individualized attention they receive here.” Certificates of merit were given for work on the following respective Dordt productions. ***Peter and the Starcatcher*** Gerrit VanDyk for Graphic Design Robin Suing for Marketing Hannah Landman for Properties Design ***The Diviners*** Lindsay Kuiper for Sound Design Hannah Vanderhooft for Stage Management Teresa Ter Haar for Direction You can also learn more about Dordt's [theatre arts program](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/theatre-arts-ba). As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Dordt, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. ## Related Programs [ Bachelor's ![The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/53360404670_79fc8007d9_o.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=59&h=39&c=2d191b56&v=bca775f998680fa74bba4b5744a64278ea89db8810f87774d65dc40ad88d3e3c) ### Theatre Arts Major ](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/theatre-arts-ba) [ Bachelor's ![Female student acting surprised](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-09-14_002807.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=59&h=39&c=c57c2f3f&v=fabb1dc03b3a9e3f89d188aecf748eb5c5bc3c93a4b05cb909e9e82dbcc4c62a) ### Theatre ArtsTheatre Arts Minor Minor ](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/theatre-arts-ba/theatre-arts-minor) --- [Previous Article ![Brick and concrete sign of "Dordt University" is surrounded by prairie grass](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/front-entrance.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=460ee147&v=05c18acb8bf730fe9d56406fcd2b3f749f7c7b670e0e649e654cbe0f65b606bb) Arts Apr 12, 2022 ## Phillips to Present Senior Art Show Acacia Phillips to present her senior art show "Behind the Scenes" Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/phillips-to-present-senior-art-show) [Next Article ![Brick and concrete sign of "Dordt University" is surrounded by prairie grass](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/front-entrance.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=460ee147&v=05c18acb8bf730fe9d56406fcd2b3f749f7c7b670e0e649e654cbe0f65b606bb) Arts Mar 23, 2022 ## Dordt Artist to Present Senior Exhibition "Imprint" Samuel De Jong presents his senior exhibition "Imprint" Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-artist-to-present-senior-exhibition-imprint) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 19 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-19) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>