SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – Cuesta College Theatre Arts’ student-directed James and the Giant Peach is one of only four productions chosen to represent Region 8 at the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) in Glendale, California, from Feb. 10–14, 2026.
Region 8 includes colleges and universities from Arizona, Central and Southern California, Hawaii, Southern Nevada, Utah, and Guam.
In celebration of the ACTF invitation and strong demand, Cuesta College will remount James and the Giant Peach for three shows at the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center Mainstage: Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17–18 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for children under 12, and may be purchased at tickets.cuesta.edu.
The production was selected by the Executive Board of ACTF Region 8 to be presented at Conference 58, a five-day regional conference that brings together outstanding college theatre programs for performances, workshops, professional feedback, and national award consideration.
“The conference is a celebration of creativity where our students will shine as emerging theatre artists,” said bree valle, artistic director of the Cuesta College Theatre Arts Program. “It gives them a powerful platform to showcase their work, take creative risks, and grow through improvisation, performance, and bold new ideas. More than just an event, it’s an immersive experience that builds confidence, flexible thinking, and artistic courage.”
ACTF provides students with opportunities to participate in disciplines including acting, musical theatre, playwriting, directing, dramaturgy, design, technology, stage management, and devised theatre. National theatre professionals attend the conference to respond to productions and determine awards and commendations.
“Students will become part of a vibrant community of artists – exchanging ideas, debating each other’s work, attending live theatre together, and discovering future creative partners,” valle said.
James and the Giant Peach is a student-directed production led by Cash Costango and Kasady Riley, whose leadership and collaborative vision played a central role in the show’s success.
“This production was truly a team effort, and being selected for the festival feels like a celebration of everyone involved,” Costango said. “From rehearsals to performances, we poured our hearts into this show, and it means so much to have that work recognized alongside other outstanding college programs.”
“This experience has pushed us to grow as artists and collaborators in ways we couldn’t have imagined,” Riley said. “Representing Cuesta College at the American College Theatre Festival allows us to learn from other programs, receive professional feedback, and celebrate the power of student-driven theatre.”
The invitation marks the sixth time Cuesta College Theatre Arts has represented the western region of the United States at ACTF. Past honors include the original play pool ’63 (2014), which received five national awards; Refried Elvis (2016), which earned six awards; Man of La Mancha (2018) with 14 awards; Ghost Ship (2019), which received 10 awards including Outstanding Theatrical Creation; and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2023), which earned 10 awards including Outstanding Performance by an Actor. In 2021, bree valle received the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, one of the highest honors in theatre education.
To support the remount and the students’ participation in the regional festival, Cuesta College has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help offset production, travel, lodging, and transportation expenses. All donations are being matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, doubling the impact of each gift and helping ensure every student can participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The Cuesta College Theatre Arts Program is all about collaboration, creativity, and self-discovery where students learn to listen deeply, share leadership, and communicate their ideas with confidence – onstage and off,” valle said. “Just as importantly, the program empowers artists to celebrate their own unique identities and bring their full, authentic selves into the work. Through hands-on teamwork, students build trust in their voices, support one another, and develop a bold ‘Yes, I can!’ mindset that carries far beyond the stage into their classes, careers, and everyday lives.”
Community members are encouraged to attend the remounted performances and support the students as they prepare to share their work on a prestigious regional stage. To donate or learn more about supporting the students and their ACTF journey, visit their fundraising page by clicking here.
PHOTO: The cast of Cuesta College Theatre Arts’ James and the Giant Peach celebrate the student-directed production’s selection as one of only four shows representing Region 8 at the American College Theatre Festival. The production returns to the Harold J. Miossi CPAC Mainstage for three performances only on Jan. 16–18 before heading to the regional festival in Glendale, California.