The Wichita State University School of Performing Arts’ production of “States of Happiness” has been selected to perform at the Regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) on Jan. 25-26 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Students and faculty will represent Shocker Nation as one of seven productions out of a seven-state region to perform at the Festival. “States of Happiness” was designed and directed by University of Central Florida student Josh Whedon and was the winner of the 2017 WSU National Playwriting Competition.

The KCACTF was founded in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center’s founding chairman. Since its inception, KCACTF has given more than 400,000 college theater students the opportunity to have their work critiqued, improve their dramatic skills and receive national recognition for excellence. More than 16 million theatergoers have attended approximately 10,000 festival productions nationwide.

Before leaving for the festival in Iowa, the School of Performing Arts will perform a benefit performance of “States of Happiness” 7:30 p.m., Jan. 19, at the Welsbacher Theatre, 29th and Oliver. The performance is rated PG-13. All proceeds from the performance will go toward students’ travel expenses.

Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Box Office in the lobby of the Duerksen Fine Arts Center or online at wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice. General admission is $12, with $10 discount tickets available for seniors, faculty/staff and military or $6 tickets for children and students. WSU students are eligible for one free ticket (visit http://www.wichita.edu/j/?4363 for details). For ticketing assistance, contact the Fine Arts Box Office from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, at 316-978-3233 or fasttickets@wichita.edu.

The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master’s and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State’s Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university’s vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.

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