Kansas University’s theater and film department was recently awarded the bid to host the 2009 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (ACTF) Region V Festival from January 18-24, 2009. The Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau and the theater and film department worked with festival organizers to prepare a proposal to have the festival.

The event is expected to bring 2,500 attendees consisting of students and faculty from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Festival organizers anticipate demand for 600 sleeping rooms for the duration of the event. In addition to the overnight accommodations, a variety of venues throughout Lawrence will be used for programming. The festival includes workshops, acting competitions, displays and productions of original and traditional plays.

“We’re thrilled to work with Lawrence CVB to host this event in Lawrence and look forward to bringing our colleagues to our community,” said Jim Peterson, KU theater and film department. “Festival participants traditionally make an effort to really experience the host city, so we anticipate that this group will have a positive impact on the local economy.”

The Lawrence CVB will assist with transportation needs for the group and will work with the KU theater and film department and local restaurants and businesses to help accommodate the dining needs of festival attendees.