BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Two students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Theatre will go to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., April 16-22, after being named national finalists in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF).

Students Dustin Cañez, 20, of Northport, and Luke Harlan, 21, of Fayetteville, Ark., were honored by the KCACTF at the regional festival in Americus, Ga. Cañez is a finalist in the National Sound Design Award for sound design for Theatre UAB’s production “Intimate Apparel.” His design was selected from 39 sound designs invited to compete at the regional festival, including another of his designs for the Theatre UAB production “The Doctor in Spite of Himself.” “Intimate Apparel” also was Theatre UAB’s selection for competition at the festival, where it was well received by the judges and audience. As a finalist, Cañez will attend workshops and master classes at the Kennedy Center. He is the son of Debbie and Richard Cañez of Northport.

Harlan won the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Directing Award at KCACTF for his direction of a scene from Christopher Durang’s “Beyond Therapy.” Student actors from UAB, Alec James, Ethan Feigel and Liv von Oelreich, performed the scene. At the national festival, Harlan will direct a short play by one of the winning playwrights from a regional KCACTF festival. Harlan also was awarded a one-year associate membership to the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. He is the son of Carol and Marvin Harlan of Fayetteville, Ark.

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.