Sarah Crossingham advisorat Blue Hawk Theatre Guild | Dickinson State University
Sarah Crossingham advisorat Blue Hawk Theatre Guild | Dickinson State University
The Blue Hawk Theatre Guild at Dickinson State University (DSU) recently concluded its fall production of "The Foreigner," drawing over 300 attendees across three performances. The event included students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the local community. This production was one of the first major events for the Blue Hawk Theatre Guild, a new student-led group focused on expanding theatre opportunities both at DSU and in the surrounding area.
A representative from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) attended to adjudicate the performance. KCACTF is a national program that recognizes excellence in collegiate theatre and provides professional development for students in acting, design, directing, and playwriting. Each year, it holds eight regional festivals leading up to a national event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Two DSU students received nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship as part of this process. Graduate student Kat Messmer (Owen Musser) and junior Kylie Zeller (Betty Meeks) will represent DSU at the Region 5 KCACTF festival in January. Region 5 covers North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. At the festival, Messmer and Zeller will compete for scholarships and participate in workshops and collaborative performances with peers from across these states.
Freshman Jackson Halvorson’s portrayal of Charlie Baker was noted for creativity and stage presence during "The Foreigner," indicating emerging talent within DSU's theatre program.
Sarah Crossingham, advisor for the Blue Hawk Theatre Guild said: “The response from both the DSU community and the greater Dickinson community demonstrates the need for theatre on our campus. Our students have poured their hearts into this production, and to see their efforts recognized at a regional level is both humbling and inspiring.”
Founded in 2025, the Blue Hawk Theatre Guild offers opportunities for students to act, direct, design sets or costumes, and participate in all aspects of theatrical production. In addition to staged plays like "The Foreigner," future plans include improv nights and workshops intended to foster engagement through performing arts. The guild’s next mainstage production is scheduled for April 2026; more information will be released later this fall.
For more details about upcoming performances or involvement with the guild at Dickinson State University contact Sarah Crossingham.
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