DVC drama students Michael Alexander and Will Katzman won prestigious awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival at CSU Fullerton.

Alexander won the festival award for Best Performance of an Actor for his role as Lucius Jenkins, a convicted murderer who preaches about God in “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train,” while Katzman won a national award,  Best Make-up Design, for his work in DVC’s production of “Frankenstein.”

Katzman will now present his work in a formal collage at the national festival in Washington, D.C., April 13-19, in an all-expenses-paid trip.

The cast and crew of “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” were also honored with a plaque for the performance of the play at the week-long festival.

Directed by student Marlon Deleon, the production was one of six plays selected from 200 submissions for regional competitions.

Ed Trujillo, DVC’s drama area chair, said he was disappointed that “Jesus Hopped the A Train” did not qualify for the national festival.

“But it was very competitive [and] everyone did a hell of a job,” he said.
 
Deleon said of Alexander’s award, “Part of me was not surprised, but, of course, we all shot to our feet and cheered our fellow actor.”

Alexander said he was shocked to have heard his name called out for best actor, adding, “I was honored to win such an award, especially in the midst of such great performers.” 
 
More than 1,200 students, including the 37 from DVC, attended the Region VIII festival, which included students from California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam.

Trujillo taught two workshops, “Is Theater a Safe Place to Talk Diversity?” and “Layering the Physical Elements of Theater.”

The Associated Students of DVC paid $3,500 towards the cost of the trip.