International Thespian Festival Archives - Dramatics Magazine Online

An Inside Look at the ITF Short Film Festival

Jose Triana — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:04:43 +0000

The inaugural Thespy Short Film Festival brought together Thespians from around the country to showcase and celebrate students’ creative work in film. Dramatics chatted with some of the creators and collected all the films to celebrate these talented Thespians once again.

At ITF, a packed house enjoyed 18 films created by 30 Thespians from 10 different states exploring themes ranging from preparing for college to growing older to first loves. “It was an incredible experience to be part of the first Thespy Short Film Festival,” said Patrick Cashion, Washed Up. “It was both inspiring and humbling to have my own film showcased among my fellow Thespians, and the supportive and dynamic atmosphere made it a truly memorable night.”

From Stage to Film – Unique Challenges for Thespians

Featuring 21 categories, the Thespy awards celebrate student achievement in a range of practices, many of which focus on and around the stage. That’s why the short film category provides a unique departure that challenges Thespians not only on their medium, but also their creative process.

“It’s a different type of ‘suspense of disbelief’ that resonates with a larger audience. It also has so many moving parts that anyone and everyone can find a home in to fulfill their passions,” said Ella Wissing, When the Grass Was Greener. “The challenges of continuity and needing to understand your story fully from writing to filming to editing; the artistic and technical aspects need to be all in sync.”

In some cases, that also meant finding the talent for the films. “Oftentimes you have to come up with a plot, find actors, film it all yourself, and even act in your own film,” said Jack McCarthy, DUNK.

Of course, film also offers some advantages. In addition to having more control of what the viewer experiences and the flexibility of multiple takes, it also sharpened many Thespians’ directorial skills.

“While on the stage, a director’s main objective is to essentially train an actor over multiple rehearsals to independently perform a scene in the director’s vision without any input from the director. In film, the director and actor only need to get the take right once. This usually means that the director and actor have a sense of co-dependency that never leaves throughout production,” said Drew Gordon, The Understudy. “I found this process to be both challenging and rewarding, as I had to carefully choose my words and pieces of direction while my actors carefully adjusted subtle nuances and emotional delivery of their acting from take to take. Despite this sometimes-painstaking ordeal, I feel as though my actors and I grew closer and more understanding of each other not just over the course of production of the film, but also in later shows and rehearsals.”

Succeeding with Your Short Film

Thinking of applying for adjudication next year? Our Thespians also had plenty of advice on how to find success throughout their journey and what worked best for them.

“For future filmmakers, I have two pieces of advice: First, never underestimate the power of an in-depth storyboard. Draw and write down everything you want in your film; down to the second,” says Ella Duffey, Marionette Nez Rogue. “Second, although it can be tempting to capture moments with one long continuous shot, I found that having many shorter shots can keep the audience engaged and allow you to capture moments to their fullest.”

“Use all the resources available to you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” says Mikayla Salazar, 1GN1T10N. “The teachers and students around you can be surprisingly helpful, even if you’re just looking for extra actors.”

“Every opportunity you don’t take is one success you could miss out on. Whether you want to be a filmmaker, an actor/actress, behind the scenes, or on the big stage, do it because that’s what feels right. Surely always take a drink of uncharted waters and find what you feel connects as your true legitimate passion first,” said Dawson V Jackson, Dean. “But remember we’re still human. Judgement is severe in this generation, but the most impactful judge is yourself. Do what you do because YOU love it.”

2024 Thespy Short Film Festival

Now without further ado, here is the 2024 collection of superior-rated Thespy Short Films.

Yours Dearly

Flip It

Marionette Nez Rouge

Washed Up

The Understudy

How Can I Even

DUNK

Night Owl

Solace

Escapism

Dean

Laundromat Therapy

When the Grass Was Greener

Disconnect

1GN1T10N

Butterfly Fly Away

Love, J

Modus Vivendi

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From Thespy Stage to Working Artists

Jose Triana — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:32:02 +0000

Becoming a Thespian can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Not only can you find community amongst fellow students, but often it kicks off a long-term artistic journey. While every student’s experience will be different, there are always Thespian alum to look to for guidance and inspiration.

Muhammad Khaerisman and Tyren Duncan are two such Thespians.

Members of Troupe 7961, their Thespian journey earned them Thespy accolades, long-lasting memories at the International Thespian Festival, college educations from University of Houston and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi respectively, and a career as working artists, where they still attend Texas Thespians – now as teaching artists.

As Kendra Willeby, their former teacher and troupe director, explains, their journey represents that “pie in the sky dream outcome” of becoming a Thespian.

Today, they run Faces Network, an artistic collective and platform for artists, with performance arts pieces hosted in Atlanta and a new film, Prodigal, premiering in 2024. EdTA caught up with them to learn more about their Thespian experience and how these lessons have helped shape their careers.

The Early Days as a High School Thespian

For Khaerisman, who like many children, aspired to be an astronaut, the path to theatre unexpectedly started with early wins. “In the summer of 11th grade, Ms. Willeby signed me up for college auditions, and out of something like 74 schools, 72 called me back,” he says. “It blew my mind. I don’t know if it’s my upbringing or because I wasn’t exposed to anyone in this space, but it didn’t occur to me that I could pursue acting as a life course.”

For Duncan, football was the main priority, playing from elementary all the way until his junior year of high school. However, his passion for football declined, and the need for a new creative outlet led back to theatre. In his freshman year of high school, he had performed in South Pacific, had a “good time,” and figured it would be a great place to return to. But his second run in theatre didn’t start as expected.

“Oh God, [the audition] was a school bus breakdown on the side of road: flames, smoke, everything,” he said. “When you’re in high school, you feel like that’s it. You feel like ‘Ah, if I didn’t do this one thing then I’m completely done in life, and I’ll never amount to anything, I’ll be a failure.’ While the audition wasn’t ideal, he still got his opportunity to return to theatre. “Ms. Willeby took a shot on me and saw potential in my ability… I thought it was really great that someone saw a lot in me.”

Finding Theatre on a Larger Scale

Growing as a Thespian often means challenging yourself and expanding your skills. One of the easiest ways to start is by attending state festivals. “I decided to go to Texas Thespians [state festival] because I really wanted to be better. A better artist; a better actor for people around me and for myself,” Duncan says. “I remember a moment specifically where we made it to the hotel, and I was with my friends, and looking out the window of the hotel. It was just so beautiful, seeing Dallas and all the lights at night, and I was like, “Wow bro, theatre took me here, and I wonder where else it could take me.”

Ultimately, it took Duncan and Khaerisman to the largest stage of all, the International Thespian Festival (ITF), where they would make lasting memories and learn some tough lessons too. Khaerisman says those annual trips to ITF are filled with memories of adventuring with friends, random jam sessions with troupes from around the country, and a chance to connect deeply with the craft.

“One of the featured artists was the composer of Big Fish. I’d never been exposed to this musical before, and he sang a song called ‘Fight the Dragons.’ It was just him on the piano – a very simple performance – but I remember crying and [feeling] so much relief and catharsis,” he says. “If this medium of art could give me that, as a human being, as a student, as a person, I really wanted to commit to be able to provide that for other people.”

Competition 101

Of course, for many Thespians, ITF isn’t just about bonding with fellow theatre students – it’s a stage for competition and an opportunity to see talent from around the county – and our reactions to that dynamic can often be varied.

For some, it’s a comforting experience. “It’s reassuring that you’re not the only person that’s really good at what you do,” says Duncan. However, that experience also opens doubts that require intentionality and mindset shifts. “There’s a lot of kids who are also very talented. And, of course, that impostor syndrome sets in because you’re like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m not good enough,’” he says. “I just had to check myself and realize it’s not about that; it’s about being a part of a larger community and knowing that these people are bringing their best, I’m bringing my best, and we should all want to make each other better.”

For others, like Khaerisman, ITF is the ultimate proving ground on the largest stage possible. Coming from a competitive background, his mindset was laser-focused, seeing fellow Thespians as an obstacle to overcome. However, after an early exit from competition, it proved to be a learning experience too.

“I remember my first time going to [ITF] I was like, ‘We got main stage. We did it all: we got the right writing, we rehearsed it, my partner’s gas, I’m gas, everything’s going to be incredible.’ There was no thought in my mind that there was a possibility we wouldn’t even break out of the room [advance to main stage],” Khaerisman says. “Being taken out of the competition early on just freed my time to do workshops, watch shows, and experience [ITF] without having to be in that challenger mindset.”

Opportunities to be surrounded by thousands of theatre fans and practitioners are few and far between, which is why one of the things Duncan and Khaerisman agree on is that the biggest reward of attending ITF is finding community. Whether that means stepping out of your comfort zone to experience new practices in a workshop, chatting with Thespians from other states, or simply enjoying a show, there’s more to ITF than competition.

Finding Community Post-Grad

Part of the challenge for Thespians continuing their journey after graduation is finding opportunities. For starters, community is often a byproduct of being in high school. Having graduated from college at the height of the pandemic, where interaction was at an all-time low, figuring out new ways to meet artists was an experience both men had to navigate.

According to Duncan, one of the places to start is with social media. “I love acting, but I also love underground hip-hop, house music, people who create fine art as far as sculptures, paintings, and things like that,” he says. “I always go on Instagram and figure out, ‘OK, what gallery is showing XYZ, how can I pull up to show support and actually get to know these artists?’”

This intentionality has helped them land opportunities like costume designing for smaller theatrical companies and expanding their network of agency contacts, making life as working artists a real possibility.

The other challenge post-graduation is understanding who you are as an artist. “For me it was unlearning that my identity – who Muhammad is and what Muhammad be doin’ – are two separate things,” Khaerisman says. “I thought my community of artists was going to be just actors, because I’m an actor and those are the people who would understand my journey. But it’s the complete opposite. Don’t just seek out actors or theatre practitioners. Go to an open mic, go to a stand-up comedy night, go to a movement workshop. Be in community with creators, cause anybody doing [art] at a DIY independent level… there’s going to be alignment.”

“Making It” as a Working Artist

Today, they’re both working artists and have founded a business to continue their passion in the arts. And while their journey is unique to them, there are some nuggets of advice they offer Thespians looking to pursue a similar journey.

“Everybody’s path is different. I might be wearing something that may not fit for somebody else, but I can assure you, the more you actually listen to your voice as an actor and as a person, the better off you’ll be,” says Duncan. “That’s the biggest advice I can give to any young artists out there. Don’t let them change you, let the world be your mirror.”

“It’s kind of silly, but all of us jumped into art because there was something we felt emotionally passionate about. But if you’re going down a path where you’re trying to build a life as an artist – a career and something that sustains you – approach it logically,” says Khaerisman. “Figure out the tools, skills, and knowledge you already have. Then create that plan for yourself. It’s only impossible if you don’t write it down.”

Stay connected with Muhammad and Tyren on Instagram @_xxfacesxx_ or their YouTube Channel.

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Planning Your Theatre Off-Season

Dylan Malloy — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:15:56 +0000

Maybe you just took your final bow or finished striking the set for your school’s fall play. You’re so proud of all your hard work, but now, there are months until auditions for the spring production. While it can be easy to start focusing and working towards that next production, it’s also a great time to take a much-needed break (while still being a little productive).

Need some ideas? Here are tips to help fill the time between now and your next act.

1. Take Time to Rest

No matter how much fun you have throughout the process, working on a production is always exhausting. Late nights and long rehearsals can leave even the most seasoned professional drained. Now is a great time to catch up on homework, spend time with your family and friends, and get back into the rhythms of normal life. Even something as simple as returning to a normal sleep schedule will work wonders for your mental and physical health.

The hours after school may feel long at first without rehearsal, but by taking time to recharge and catch up on other responsibilities, you can make excellent use of the time.

When doing things you enjoy, like theatre, it can be easy to push yourself too hard without realizing it. But it’s important to take lots of time to rest after each production to recharge. It’s difficult to create art while running on empty. Spending time with other people and prioritizing sleep “fills your tank” so you’re energized for your next production.

2. Go See Other Shows

Now that you’re not working on a production, you have time to go watch other pieces of theatre in your community. First, look at other high schools. It’s easy schedule-wise to go see a show after school, and supporting your fellow Thespians makes the entire Thespian community stronger. Watching other high school students perform or do tech inspires you by showing you what is possible. Maybe a student from another school aced a challenging monologue or executed a perfect set change. You’re just as capable of doing that, too.

You might also have access to other forms of theatre in your area. Community theatres often produce familiar plays and musicals, and larger theatre companies tend to include brand-new plays in their lineups. Do some research to see what’s playing in your area. Seeing professional work teaches you about the complexity of bringing more large-scale productions to life, and you’ll likely leave with some ideas about things you can try in your next production.

3. Continue to Bond with Your Company

During a production, everyone involved in the company, both cast and crew, become very close. Bonding comes naturally when you’re rehearsing late into the night and spending all your free time on set. However, once the production ends and everyone goes back to their separate lives, it’s natural for people to drift apart. You can be a leader in your theatre company by hosting bonding events in between shows to keep the sense of community alive.

These events don’t have to be complicated. You can:

Invite people to watch a movie, such as a recording of another theatre performance, like Hamilton.
Grab scripts from your drama teacher’s collection or the library and do a read-through of a play you’ve never experienced before.
Have a brief meeting after school to check in with everyone or plan some time for coffee.

No matter what you do, be sure everyone from both the cast and crew is welcome. Sometimes, these groups feel separate, but the strongest and most unified theatre companies have lots of interaction between cast and crew.

4. Find a New Favorite Show

Even when you’re not working on a show, you can still get excited about theatre! Technology makes it easier than ever to discover musicals that are both well and lesser known. Use online music streaming services to search for public playlists full of songs from other users’ favorite musicals. Put these playlists on shuffle and you’re sure to hear musical theatre songs of all different styles and time periods.

When you find something you like, listen to the full album to begin to understand the story, and depending on the show, it might be possible to find a published version of the script to read. Try to figure out why you prefer some types of stories over others. Does the music speak to you, or the technical elements, or the characters? By identifying which stories resonate with you, you begin to define your personal taste as a theatre maker. And who knows – maybe a new show you discover will be an option for your spring production.

After you finish work on a show, it’s important to rest, reconnect with others, and find new shows to love so you can enter your next season with fresh inspiration. It might seem like a long time until you’re onstage or backstage again, but when you’re intentional about your time, you’ll step into your next production more energized than ever.

The post Planning Your Theatre Off-Season appeared first on Dramatics Magazine Online.

From Dreams to Stage

Dylan Malloy — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:41:21 +0000

As a double major in playwriting and business at Emory University, seeing my work onstage is always a dream come true. This summer, my full-length play The Groundwater won the Blank Theatre’s 31st Annual Young Playwrights Festival, producing the play in Hollywood in July 2023. The play is the final installment of a five-play series about human connection and the climate crisis.

This was my second production with the Young Playwrights Festival, and it was also the company’s first in-person festival since 2019 (due to the pandemic). Any playwright between the ages of 9 and 19 can submit work to the festival, and 12 winners are chosen from the nationwide submissions every year. I can’t recommend the program highly enough!

Bringing The Groundwater to the West Coast was an exciting challenge, and while the play was first performed as a staged reading by Emory’s Oxford College theatre department in September 2022, the Blank Theatre produced the first fully staged production.

Here’s a peek into the festival experience and the playwriting lessons I learned along the way.

Mentorship and Edits

The Blank Theatre assigns every playwright a mentor as they edit their script. I worked with Aliza Goldstein, a playwright who is also an alumnus of the Young Playwrights Festival. She and I met over Zoom multiple times to reread the play and discuss how to make it stronger.

Because I tend to overwrite, this meant cutting down the script and removing unnecessary lines of dialogue. The mentorship process also gave me the opportunity to explore different facets of the characters and include an entirely new scene.

Lesson: Keep it short

From these meetings, I learned that brevity makes a script stronger and dense paragraphs of dialogue are difficult for the audience to follow. When writing, ask yourself how the characters can communicate using as few words as possible.

The Rehearsal Process

We began rehearsals in early July, where I met the cast and creative team for the first time. Madison McLaughlin (Arrow on CW, Chicago PD), Jorge-Luis Pallo (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), and David Bloom (American Born Chinese on Disney+) starred in the production. I learned so much about the craft of theatre from watching them work!

The actors all brought an incredible amount of enthusiasm, talent, and dedication to the play. As we analyzed the characters, I discovered even more about the story, which I’d been working on for two years. We all grew very close during late-night rehearsals and became fast friends. The new relationships formed over the summer are one of the most transformative parts of the Young Playwrights Festival!

Lesson: Make space for creativity and rest

Our director, Laura Stribling, wanted the actors to feel free to make bold decisions onstage, so she let them improvise certain movements to see what felt natural. From this experience, I learned that stage directions should work for the actors, not the other way around. If you’re working on an original play and notice that a certain direction is uncomfortable or unnatural for the actors, it helps to step back and see if there is another way to approach this movement.

Though we usually rehearsed at night, I spent the rest of the day working on other writing projects. It’s easy to become burnt out while juggling multiple stories. I realized that I had to make time for rest so that I could bring my best self to rehearsal. Going on long walks, spending time with family, reading, and taking naps gave me energy. If you’re working on a production and want to recharge, try setting aside time in your day when you are not doing anything creative. Spending time in silence quiets your mind and reduces stress levels.

The Finishing Touches

The production ran from July 20-23 and was performed alongside two short one-act plays written by other winning playwrights. The West Coast premiere of The Groundwater was magical, and I’m so excited to continue developing this script.

We performed in the Skylight Theatre, a gorgeous venue in Los Angeles with an actual skylight.

Lesson: Shows will always evolve

After multiple productions and performances, a play is never “done” until a playwright decides that it is. The world of your story is like a sandbox: You can build and rebuild different parts of the story for as long as you’d like.

Our director decided to introduce classical music mixed with sounds of dripping water, which formed the musical motif of the show. We loaded in furniture pieces and then experimented with different technical elements. Blue and purple light represented moments where the characters are dreaming or feeling distanced from reality. It was wonderful to learn more about how technical elements highlight the emotions of a story.

The Blank Theatre has changed the lives of countless young playwrights, and I’m forever grateful for the summers I spent with the company. Working in the theatre this summer taught me how to revise a script to make it punchier and more efficient. I also learned how to balance a demanding rehearsal schedule with time to write and work on other projects. Through the friends I made on set, I once again discovered the joy of telling stories with other people and watching their talent shine onstage.

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ITO Sid Gunasekaran Talks Staging Success

Sponsor — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:35:48 +0000

Breaking Cultural Stigmatization and Redefining Career Paths in the Arts

As the warm sun descended beyond the horizon and the first chords of music filled the air, Staging Success reaffirmed its commitment to empowering aspiring artists. Through its most recent “Serenades & Sunsets” event, the nonprofit led by high school senior and 2023-24 International Thespian Officer (ITO) Sid Gunasekaran showcased an evening of artistry, inspiration, and scholarship awards. Here Sid shares how his efforts aim to break down societal barriers for young artists.

Q. What led you to create Staging Success?

Sid Gunasekaran: You know, I’ve had the privilege to dabble in different worlds—business ventures like Dallas Shoe Plug and, of course, the arts. Each experience was a stepping stone that led me to appreciate the transformative power of creativity. But I noticed that in minority communities, particularly in my South Asian culture, pursuing the arts is often stigmatized. There’s this emphasis on conventional career paths like engineering or medicine, which led me to recognize a void that needed filling. That’s how Staging Success was born.

Q. Can you elaborate on the stigmatization in your culture around the arts?

Sid Gunasekaran: Certainly. In many South Asian communities, the arts are often viewed as a “lesser” career or something that should be relegated to hobby status. People forget that the arts are not just about self-expression they’re also a pathway to countless opportunities. Take me, for instance; I’m a high school senior interested in business. But it’s my background in the arts that has given me the unique perspective and skill set to succeed in whatever endeavor I choose. I want Staging Success to break down these societal barriers and reshape how our culture perceives the arts.

Q. So how does “Serenades & Sunsets” play into this mission?

Sid Gunasekaran: “Serenades & Sunsets” was a multi-faceted event that served as a microcosm of what we aim to achieve. We had young artists from diverse backgrounds who were not just given a platform but were also provided with scholarships. The event itself was enveloped in a rich atmosphere that celebrated their talents, making it a transformative experience. The setting sun that evening symbolized the end of an era of narrow thinking about the arts and the rise of new opportunities.

Q. Can you tell us about the role of business in your endeavors?

Sid Gunasekaran: Business is not separate but rather integral to fulfilling our mission at Staging Success. My business experience has taught me strategy, structure, and most importantly, how to bring resources together. We are in the planning stages of launching four more events this year, serving to expand our reach, get more artists involved, and ultimately generate more resources for scholarships and mentoring programs.

Q. What would be your message to aspiring artists and skeptics within your culture?

Sid Gunasekaran: To the artists, I say, let your art speak for you. Prove the skeptics wrong and pave your own path. To the skeptics, it’s time to realize that art is not just a form of expression but also a form of empowerment. By limiting our views on what is ‘acceptable,’ we not only stifle creativity but also close doors to endless possibilities.

Te debut event collected voluntary donations, all of which are slated to benefit the Educational Theatre Foundation. A blend of advocacy and art, “Serenades and Sunsets” sets a precedent for Staging Success’ plans for the 2023-2024 season, which Sid promises will be equally impactful and ambitious.

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The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Patty Craft — Tue, 09 May 2023 21:17:20 +0000

The International Thespian Festival (ITF) main stage showcases the best of the best of student performances in school theatre. In 2023, the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood hits the stage with Thespian Troupe 1794 of Floyd Central Theatre Arts.

Come behind the scenes with director Brooklyn Chalfant. If you’re already registered for ITF 2023 you’ll get to see this show. (Registration is closed at the time of this post.)

A Q&A with the Director of Edwin Drood

DRAMATICS: Why this show right now? What considerations were made in your selection process?

BROOKLYN CHALFANT: Our student performers are extraordinary singers and dancers, so I found a musical that would challenge them as actors. This one has rich characters and music, and has more than 30 possible endings! The audience chooses by vote at each performance which ending they do. The technical crew, performers, and musicians all had to be completely focused and prepared to follow the audience’s decision.

Choosing a show that challenges the students’ weaknesses may seem counterintuitive; typically directors highlight strengths. But one of my goals as a theatre educator is to never be comfortable. Growth happens in the challenges.

It’s been such a rewarding experience watching these students rise to the challenge. They exceeded all expectations by securing a spot on the ITF main stage!

DRAMATICS: Please finish this sentence: You wouldn’t know it but…

CHALFANT: You wouldn’t know it, but our entire production crew is students. Our technical theatre director and teacher, Mr. Jared Willis, and I work to ensure that the tech students are trained and empowered to run all technical aspects of the show.

Then there’s a team of student carpenters that Mr. Willis leads that built the set. I worked closely with our student charge artist and her painting team to bring the Music Hall Royale to life through professional techniques I learned at Cobalt Studios. Our lighting, sound, and props designers are all students as well! During the show, the student stage management team keeps everything running, while our deck, fly, and wardrobe crew make sure the magic takes place behind the scenes. For this show, our crew is actually larger than the cast! They are such professionals.

You also wouldn’t know it, but this is the first show for some of our student performers. One of the best things about theatre education is that it welcomes everyone. So while some of our performers have been doing this since they were quite young, others tried it for the first time in this show and even earned leading roles.

DRAMATICS: What do you want readers to know that we haven’t asked?

CHALFANT: The Mystery of Edwin Drood is weird and quirky. Yet, it’s a perfect show for thespians who love all things metatheatrical and audience interaction. Insider Tip: If you want to get involved with voting on the ending for the performance you see, be sure to sit in an aisle seat!

For ITF 2020, our seniors had earned the privilege of bringing Guys and Dolls to the main stage at festival. Then COVID restrictions resulted in cancellation of the in-person event and festival was virtual. It’s been cathartic for them to have a chance to return and fulfill that dream from their freshman year. They’ve encouraged the other students in the program through the process, too.

Plus, this is my first ITF main stage appearance as a director. I’ve only been teaching theatre for three year. It’s been a career goal of mine since I was a teenage thespian to have a show on the ITF main stage! After festival, it’s time to start dreaming again.

Our Floyd Central Theatre is active all over social media. You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Patty Craft is Dramatics.org content manager.

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ITF Main Stage: Antigone in Munich

Matt Curtis — Mon, 01 May 2023 14:13:28 +0000

Troupe 2075 from Mount Carmel Academy, an all-female high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been garnering attention for their powerful production of Antigone in Munich by Claudia Haas. Drawing inspiration from Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy, the play brings new life to the timeless themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice by recounting the story of a group of German university students who resist the Nazi regime during World War II. The production has been selected to perform at the International Thespian Festival in June 2023.

Kristi Jacobs-Stanley, director of the production and teacher at Mount Carmel Academy, shared, “We selected Antigone in Munich because of its relevance to the current world situation. The play is about moral courage and resistance, and it is an important reminder that we all have a responsibility to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult.”

The story of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Society is not as well-known as other World War II stories, but it is one that is so identifiable today. Sophie and her friends faced great danger as they spoke out against the Nazi regime, but their bravery and commitment to doing what was right continues to inspire people around the world. By updating the setting and reimagining the storyline of Sophocles’ Antigone, the play offers a fresh perspective on the original work, while still capturing its spirit and message. Through the character of Antigone, the play explores the importance of fighting for what is right, even when doing so comes at a great personal cost. Mount Carmel Academy’s talented cast and crew bring this powerful story to life, offering audiences a chance to reflect on the importance of courage, determination, and resilience.

Jacobs-Stanley also shared a fun fact about the production: “We had to get creative with our casting because we are an all-female school with limited access to male performers. So, some of our female actresses are playing male characters in the show!”

Finally, Jacobs-Stanley wanted readers to know that “theater offers us a great opportunity to tell important stories like Antigone in Munich and inspire audiences to take action. We hope that our production will encourage others to speak out against injustice and fight for what is right.”

If you’re attending the International Thespian Festival in June 2023, be sure to catch this inspiring production of Antigone in Munich and witness the power of theatre to tell important stories and inspire change.

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Change Happens

Sydney Stephenson — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:52:43 +0000

Change happens fast at the International Thespian Festival. #ThesFest is the biggest theatre festival for students each summer. I didn’t expect my experiences there to affect me as powerfully as they did, but now I tell every Thespian I know: Go to ITF! Here are three ways to use your time at the festival to grow yourself, your resume, and your career.

Change Happens in Workshops

Among all the offerings at ITF, workshops are one of the biggest draws. There are workshops on everything from dance to technical theatre to writing, and even specialized areas like stage combat. Teaching artists and professionals lead the workshops: spending time with these experts is an experience full of opportunities to ask questions or try new skills.

Attending a variety of workshops is a huge step you can take for yourself – go to sessions on topics you love and also try several that focus on skills you don’t yet have. These workshops are hands-on opportunities to get feedback from the best of the best. They help us get ready for our careers after high school, so don’t be afraid to stretch yourself into new and exciting areas. And don’t be afraid of trying something new – there are thousands of other Thespians at ITF with all levels of experience. It’s a supportive environment perfect for trying something new.

Change Happens When We Network

At ITF 2022, I got the chance to be the stage manager for both the commissioned play, Spring Break by Joe Calarco, and the commissioned musical, ERNXST, or The Importance of Being by Bree Lowdermilk, Kait Kerrigan, and Justin Elizabeth Sayre. Both shows gave me experiences I will never forget.

The biggest takeaway from these two unforgettable experiences was the networking I did. By working on two separate creative teams at the very beginning of the creative process of new works of theatre, I got to watch the way professionals in the industry worked, gain real life experience, and make connections that I’ll use in my future theatrical career.

Another way to network at ITF is by connecting with all the exhibitors present. ITF brings in the best in the theatre industry, and the exhibit hall is a great place for students and troupe directors to learn about new products and meet with industry professionals who make a living in their respective fields. Chat them up, learn something new, and make a professional connection!

Opportunities Are Everywhere

ITF offers so much more than just an opportunity to perform and receive a Thespy^® Award. Opportunities really are everywhere: attending workshops, meeting with representatives from college theatre programs from all across the country, watching chapter select one-acts and main stage shows, meeting other Thespians and making friends, and possibly even going to rehearsals.

Other opportunities you may not know about include being part of a commissioned work written exclusively for a debut at ITF or participating in student-written 24 Hour Plays. College auditions are another huge opportunity that rising seniors can take advantage of at festival (be sure to add this opportunity when you register for ITF). Connecting with representatives from schools and learning things about their programs in person is SO MUCH better than flipping through a booklet you received in the mail. Plus, by going through the college auditions at ITF, you get a jump on the process and expand your access. Dozens of college theatre programs are always looking for new talent at ITF.

My experience with the International Thespian Society and its parent company, the Educational Theatre Association, have been unique. I didn’t go to #ThesFest expecting it to jumpstart my career and make me fall even more in love with the arts. When I became a member of ITS, I felt like I had officially become an artist and creator. Going to ITF, I was excited to compete in the Thespy Awards on an international level. I didn’t know I would get to stage manage two shows, meet and work with writers and producers who make a living doing what they love, lead two casts of high school artists (who I still occasionally catch up with), participate in college auditions and callbacks, and get into one of the college programs I auditioned for! I wouldn’t be where I am in my technical theatre career without the opportunities ITF gave me.

Everything that EdTA and ITF offer to theatre students is incredible. By providing these opportunities to young performers and technical artists, ITF opens doors that can’t be opened anywhere else. Take the next step in your career by planning your trip to Bloomington, where you’ll grow your craft, network, and take every opportunity it provides!

Sydney Stephenson is a writer and stage manager in high school. Go behind the scenes of her latest projects on Instagram.

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International Thespian Festival 2023

Destinee Steele — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 17:15:11 +0000

The International Thespian Festival 2023 is the premiere teen theatre experience! The festival is June 19-23, 2023, on the campus of Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. As a teaching artist who has presented at festival in the past, my team and I will be bringing workshops again this year and we hope you’ll join us. You’ll learn how-to tips on makeup for darker skin tones, styling Black hair safely, and much more!

As I say in the video, “You know what to do.” Get registered for the International Thespian Festival 2023 (#ThesFest) now and start making plans with your theatre friends. Along with workshops there are full-length main stage shows, college auditions, an exhibit hall full of cool theatre tools and products to check out. And most of all … thousands of theatre lovers all in one place!

More reasons to come to ITF 2023

Here’s a bit more incentive to get registered for #ThesFest, your ITO will be there for the week. Connecting with them IRL gives you firsthand experience with student leaders making a positive difference for theatre. Talk with them and be inspired to get more involved with the power of theatre in our schools.

You don’t want to miss full-length main stage shows, chapter selects, and so many other live performances. Last year I saw shows including Beauty and the Beast and Fela. The Educational Theatre Association’s Pathway program brought Fela to the festival and it was A-MAZING! Pathway enhances the school theatre experience and makes an impact in communities facing racial disparity by creating opportunities for students to work with industry professionals of color while performing works that encourage dialogue around racial equity.

“Fela” at the International Thespian Festival 2022. Photo courtesy David Slaughter Photography Network.

Destinee Steele has an MFA in wig and makeup design. She is the CEO of The Beauty Menagerie, LLC. She is also a Founding Board Member of Black Hair and Makeup United. Destinee is a regular content contributor to Dramatics.org. To learn more visit her at destineesteele.com.

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2022 Thespy Winner Nikki Wills

Natalie Clare — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:11:01 +0000

Nikki Wills earned the 2022 Thespy Award for stage management at the International Thespian Festival! Below, she tells us how she started her role as stage manager and what she’s planned next for her theatrical career.

Nikki Wills
Bishop Gorman Catholic High School
Troupe 4347 | Las Vegas, NV
Check Please: Take 2 by Jonathan Rand

What are your top 3 tips or advice about being involved in theatre?

The best pieces of advice I have ever received are:

“No advice is useless, some advice you use and benefit from, some advice is only useful because it showed you what not to do, or the advice shows you a third new solution.” No advice is useless, even when it seems as if it would make things worse. Trying something anyways can either prove your initial opinion wrong, or it can show you a third way — a blend of your way and the advice. Of course there are the off times where their advice really didn’t work for you, but even then you learned from it.
“Say yes to everything, you never know what’s waiting on the other side of the barrier you created for yourself.”
“Show others respect and they will respect you in return.”

Tell readers the most important steps you took to win the 2022 Thespy for Stage Management.

The most beneficial part of my process was my “burner copy” of my portfolio. For me this was a glittery pink binder that I swore was only a rough draft and that I would later completely re-make for my final copy. I tore pages up and scribbled things out with a sharpie, and by the end of mangling this tester binder, I knew exactly what I wanted my final product to look like, what I wanted it to contain, and how I wanted it to be designed.

How long have you been doing stage management?

This might be shocking, but I only started stage management less than a year ago. I’ve been in the performing arts for most of my life. However, I didn’t experiment with stage management or tech at all until recently. I sort of fell into it. I had just auditioned for a show and some of us were joking about how I loved the show so much I could direct it myself. The director overheard and offered me stage manager and assistant director, and I said yes! I fell in love and the rest is history.

Tell us a story about a major potential disaster you overcame as stage manager.

Our school always makes sure that the assistant stage manager (ASM) gets to call one of the shows. For this show, the ASM called two of the three spotlights suddenly went out mid-run. Specifically, one turned off on its own and the other started smoking, and due to safety concerns I made sure it was turned off immediately. Obviously, this could quickly become a lighting disaster. We hadn’t planned for this, as it had never happened before.

How I handled it is I asked the ASM to not call any of the spotlight cues in order to not confuse me or the last remaining spot operator. I then climbed the ladder to the last spot and used my knowledge of the show to call the spot based on importance. Sadly, the show couldn’t be perfect but I was able to make sure no actor was stuck in complete darkness.

Nikki Wills

What’s next in your theatre career?

This fall, I am attending Drexel University’s film and television program to continue my career in the arts. Film and theatre are two unique disciplines that often intersect — an example being how actors often act on stage and on camera, or in my case, a stage manager can also work towards being a film director. Theatre will always be a part of my life, and I intend to stage-manage shows through college. The film school I am attending only accepts 64 students every freshman class, which makes for a very small and tightly knit community. Because of this, I am pushed to create connections with artists in our community, which I hope I can also use to my advantage as I advance my stage management career.

What would you like to say that we didn’t ask you about?

In this position, I always get asked about where I find joy in this. And I honestly cannot blame anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves for asking. An actor often finds joy from things such as the applause they get, or nurturing the character they created. A technical designer often finds joy in their creation — for some, that’s a set they enjoyed building, or a costume that the designer gets to watch be brought to life.

As a stage manager, I’ve always struggled to put it into simple words for it’s a little less of an obvious answer, for me at least. But after thinking on it, I’ve been able to pin it. The joy I find in this is, in part, all the little things: getting to pack a backpack and challenging myself to organize everything I could possibly ever need into it, all of my beloved sticky notes that I get to ball up after solving the issues written on it (p.s. I seriously make a massive ball for each production and see how big I can make it), or finding the best erasable pens.

Then there’s also the bigger things, such as when everything is going wrong and your heart is racing and all that time you spent memorizing the show is suddenly coming into play because unlike anyone else, you don’t need the scripts or the call sheets or the rosters anymore — you can just run with your brain and fix things in show time. Or that feeling after you have a perfect show, and everyone is just beaming with joy. And, of course, I can’t forget my guilty pleasures, such as letting the spot operators and orchestra manager go off-com early [and disconnect their headsets] to hop into the audience, helping usher people out so everyone else can get moving to close up the night and get to the after events I helped plan. Even after spending over an hour on those three sentences, I still feel as if I couldn’t do it justice because it’s such a different experience for everyone, and it’s something I encourage everyone to experience themselves and find their own points of joy within it.

View all of the 2022 Thespy Award winners, and get ready for ITF 2023! Watch for deadlines to be updated soon at itf.schooltheatre.org.

Natalie Clare is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Dramatics. Visit her work at nataliecwrites.com.

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