Exeter College Student Wins Theater Fest Directing Competition

EXETER, NH — A Salem State University student from Exeter won a directing competition at a theater festival on Cape Cod earlier this month. Maddie Roth, who will graduate in May with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Directing, placed first place at the annual 1 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Seven students from Salem State won regional awards during the competition.

Roth took the festival's Region 1 Stage Directors Choreographers Society Directing Initiative. This win qualifies her to attend the national competition.

"I think success is defined by hard work and putting your heart and soul into your art," she said. "I chose a piece that I’m deeply connected with and I think you can see that in the work. As a college student, you need to define for yourself what you think success is. You are the only person who can truly determine when you feel successful instead of trying to live up to other’s standards."

The competition attempts to encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs as well as provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight and achieve professionalism.

The festival "honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design," according to officials.

The national competition takes place in Washington, D.C., in April.

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