Awards

Recognition from theater festivals, acting competitions, and local criticism — a record of what the work connected with.

I don't think about awards much when I'm working on something. But looking back, certain pieces of work found audiences or judges in ways that mattered. These aren't trophies on a shelf — they're markers of moments when the work landed somewhere real. The Kennedy Center recognitions in particular are the most credible signal here: peer-juried, national competition with real standards.

Acting Awards

Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and peer recognition.

All KCActF recognitions below come from Region 8 of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival — a national peer-juried competition where work is evaluated by theater professionals against productions from universities across the western United States.
Winner — KCActF Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
2014 · Next to Normal, Utah Valley University
Role of Gabe. Directed by Dave Tinney. Winner of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 8. The production also won KCActF awards for Outstanding Production of a Musical and Outstanding Performance and Production Ensemble.
KCActF Region 8 — Winner
Best Scene Partner — Irene Ryan Acting Competition
2014 · Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Best Scene Partner (Region 8) at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Scene partner to a National Finalist in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition.
KCActF Region 8 — Best Scene Partner
Regional Finalist — Irene Ryan Acting Competition
2015 · Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Regional Finalist at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 8.
KCActF Region 8 — Regional Finalist
"Best Chewing of Scenery — Literal Division"
2012 · Course 86B In the Catalogue, Salt Lake Acting Company
Role of Sterling. Directed by Tracy Callahan. City Weekly named the performance winner of their "Best Chewing of Scenery — Literal Division" award. The review noted: "Rasmussen found his inner ape and gave himself over to the role with such uninhibited joy and abandon it was difficult to believe such a young talent has already developed sufficient range to paradoxically infuse such an over-the-top performance with so much perceptivity and tenderness."
"Rasmussen found his inner ape and gave himself over to the role with such uninhibited joy and abandon it was difficult to believe such a young talent has already developed sufficient range to paradoxically infuse such an over-the-top performance with so much perceptivity and tenderness."
City Weekly — Salt Lake City

Directing Recognition

For work behind the scenes — bringing productions from page to stage.

Directed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2014 · Hamlet and Ophelia Go Swimming
Directed this piece at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. The production received the response: "Exceptional script, powerful direction."
"Exceptional script, powerful direction."
Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Festival Appearances

Work selected for competitive and curated festival programs.

Salt Lake Fringe Festival
2016 · Hamlet and Ophelia Go Swimming
Performed the role of Hamlet. Also wrote the script and composed the musical interludes. Directed by Jake Suazo. Utah Theatre Bloggers noted: "Rasmussen and Librizzi had excellent chemistry and played their roles earnestly and convincingly. Rasmussen's musical interludes were lovely and maintained an air of wistfulness."
Salt Lake Fringe Festival
New York International Fringe Festival
2013 · Adam & Steve & The Empty Sea
Role of Adam. Directed by Jerry Rapier. Plan-B Theatre Company's production of Adam & Steve & The Empty was selected for the New York International Fringe Festival, bringing the work from Utah to one of the largest theater festivals in the United States.
FringeNYC