Who is Festival 48--ITJA profiles from region V

Meet Zarif!
Profile by Carrie Winship
 
Zarif Bakirova is a first time patron of KCACTF Region 5. Originally from Azerbaijan, Zarif is currently a Fulbright Fellow working on her Master’s degree in Theatre at the University of Missouri. Zarif values theatre for its potential as a collaborative and meaningful art. She shares, “I love collaboration in theatre. Collaboration to create something. I think theatre is very intelligent, like, it’s entertainment, but it’s very intelligent entertainment. And you can achieve a lot with that. You can do it for the topics that are important for society now.”
 
At this year’s festival Zarif has been a voracious participant in the many opportunities for interaction with mentors, fellow artists, and friends offered at Festival 48. She presented dramaturgy on Annie Baker’s The Flick for the Regional Dramaturgy Award competition, and served as one of the first dramaturgs to be a part of the 10-Minute Play festival—which included the chance to speak with artists working at the Playwright’s Center in Minneapolis—her highpoint of the conference.   
 
For Zarif, the opportunity to share her passion with others is what it is all about. “It was an amazing experience to see so many people passionate about theatre together. It’s very inspiring.”

---

Raving About Carrie Winship
Profile by Leslie Howard
 
Innovation is inspiration. And innovation in education is developing into a larger and larger debate regarding the importance and accessibility of collegiate education. At the KCACTF conference, educators are awarded for contributing to the innovative evolution of education. This year, University of Missouri PhD candidate, Carrie Winship, was nominated for and received the conference’s Graduate Student Innovative Teaching Award.
 
However, Carrie’s work surpasses the realm of innovative education. Her dedication to theatre is exemplified by her KCACTF schedule. This week, Carrie not only participated in the Institute for Theatre Journalism Advocacy as a journalist, she submitted a dramaturgical display to the design expo and is directing an SDC scene advancing to the competition’s final round this afternoon.  
 
Carrie’s exceptional well-rounded nature is one of her best tools in the classroom. She is knowledgeable and can back up her advice to aspiring artists with diverse examples from personal experiences and undeniable credibility.  While continuing to lengthen her list of accolades at KCACTF, Carrie is simultaneously preparing to teach a revitalized Theatre History course, which is required for all MU theatre majors. 
 
It goes without saying; Carrie Winship is impressive and an inspiration to her students. Congratulations, Carrie!