by Dierdree Glassford, Hospitality Major

ASTEP SMCC meets KCACTF!

Artists Striving to End Poverty, aka ASTEP, is a new club here at the South Portland campus. Focusing on the change that art can make in the community and for people, ASTEP had many different aspects to its club, including but not limited to: Photography, Poetry, Film, and most of all Theater. Through these arts ASTEP hopes to create an atmosphere that is safe and inviting to everyone and that allows for them to make a difference. This past semester they focused on the Seeing the Unseen photography series, serving the purpose of opening the minds and points of views of the members, and featuring several ASTEP artists work in the A&F section of the Beacon Newspaper.

To start off the semester with a bang, ASTEP will be taking a trip to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival where they will have the opportunity to broaden their theatrical horizons. Seven students have saved and worked hard to attend the trip, and they are really looking forward to the workshops, shows, and participating in the events. Not to mention the abundance of quality time spent with fellow members. “After a long day of work shopping, I just look forward to being able to come back to our ASTEP family and get to discuss our days while enjoying each other’s company,” said E.C. Roscoe

For many it will be their first time attending the festival, but for some it will be their second, or third time going.  “This will be my third year co-leading the trip to the festival, and each year I find that we learn more and more, and meet so many great people. We have a really great group this year, so it should be a ton of fun, and I am looking forward to all of the free shows we are going to be able to see,” said Alexander Balzano.

With over 250 workshops in theater, ranging from makeup, to vocals, to monologue work, to set building, there is something for every thespian that attends. The students will also experience some of the best collegiate productions in the New England area that were nominated to perform at the festival.

For those on the more courageous side, students are able to sign up and audition for different competitions during the week. In the past our SMCC students have been cast in the NPP’s, a competition for New Playwrights, one in the lead role of a show called Fault, and one as the stage directions.Currently, one of our own has submitted a show to the NPP’s, and that show will be produced this Spring at SMCC for an audience viewing.

For trip leaders, this trip feels bittersweet, considering both are graduating SMCC this spring. They only hope that in the future there are more opportunities for students seeking a degree in the theatrical arts.

For now, ASTEP is excited for its very positive start to a new semester!