A look into the experience of an eager theatre student at the first-ever Virtual International Theatre Festival.
BY EVAN CAIN
VICE-PRESIDENT/ CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF/ ARTS AND CULTURE HEAD
All sources embedded in images.
International Thespian Festival
Every year, a group of about 15 to 20 students from high schools across California have the chance to compete against other eager high school thespians at the California Theatre Festival (Calfest). If a student receives a “Superior” award at this festival, meaning they excelled in drama, song, movement, or a non-performative theatre job (lighting design, costume design, etc.), they have the opportunity to showcase their talents at the International Thespian Festival (ITF) in Lincoln, Nebraska. This program is a weeklong immersion into the theatrical arts, where students and teachers from all around the world have the opportunity to be in and watch shows, compete against other thespians, meet new friends, attend many workshops and panel discussions, explore college booths, and much more! Calfest was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the ITF board and committee worked together to create a virtual festival that thespians all over the world could attend from their homes. I was extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this first-ever Virtual International Thespian Festival from June 22nd to the 26th. I didn’t know how the festival or events were going to turn out, considering no one had ever done an online version of this famous festival before, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. The committee created a space where everyone was welcomed and involved constantly, which made up completely for the lack of in-person interaction. The festival included a series of fabulous pre-recorded and live events including the opening number, prologues, workshops, main stage shows, chapter select shows, college fair, intermission, curtain calls, and dramatists discussions. The week was filled with endless opportunities and fun!
Opening Number
The festival began with an amazing opening number through Zoom, hosted by Micheal James Scott, who (seamlessly) made 3 costume changes between each event. The kick-off event was a pre-recorded video of thespians all over the world performing, “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman. The number was beautifully sung and sparked something in me that made me realize, once again, why I have such a deep connection with theatre and why this passion is going to carry me through the rest of my life.
Pictured: The Tony Award-winning film and Broadway director, Kenny Leon.
After this, Jen Collela, from the 2017 original cast of Come From Away sang “Me and The Sky,” a beautiful yet vocally taxing piece about a woman growing into her love of flying in the years before 9/11. The last event in the opening number was an extremely empowering and thorough speech by Kenny Leon, the original director of A Raisin In The Sun. He spoke on his experiences as a Black man in the arts industry and the struggles which he has had to overcome. He said, “I see a world where human life is a human life and no one should suffocate, I see a world with no more talk of ism, I see a world where people don’t step over other people lying in the streets, people don’t, I see a world with laughter in one hand and love in the other, I see a world where every child is loved and every grandparent is smothered, I see a world where facts are facts and the truth is never far, I see a world where greatness led by 2020 thespians.” He also spoke on the importance of keeping the art of creation and theatre alive during quarantine, which is something that a lot of artists have been struggling with. He said, “Things will change, the world will move forward, the future doesn’t have anyone’s name on it, it may as well be yours,” and “You will be amazed how rich and full a moment can be, if only you give it your full attention and discover realness on stage and in the moment.” I am extremely grateful to have heard these words from the wise, empowering Kenny Leon and I think not only every thespian, but every person in the world should listen to this speech.
Prologues
With the exception of the first day, each day started off with a pre-recorded “Prologue” that included special guest appearances via Zoom, discussions ranging from LGBTQ+ Rights to Racism and Racial Equity in the Industry, an overview of the day, and more! These 30 minute, jam-packed sessions showcased many personal stories, performances, and advice from Jason Robert Brown, Jerry Mitchel, Julie James, Dolly Parton, Ryan Haddad, Alton Fitzgerald White, Jonathan Groff, Susan Blackwell, and Laura Camien. My favourite prologue was the morning of Tuesday, June 23rd featuring the choreographer of Hairspray, Jerry Mitchel, who taught a little section of “Can’t Stop The Beat” from the musical. Jonathan Sayer, Henry Lewis, and Henry Shields from Theatre Mischief explained the process of creating “The [one act] Play That Goes Wrong,” a comedy about everything that could possibly go wrong in a theatrical performance. The Prologue closed with the Tony Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown performing “My Name Is Archie” and “Here I Come,” two numbers often included in the musical 13. The prologues were a fun and interactive way to start each day of the festival!
Workshops
The most memorable part of the entire ITF experience, in my opinion, was the number of diverse, informative, and lively workshops. As theatre students, we are taught to take extensive notes and learn from others, and these workshops were perfectly aligned with this truth. The workshops offered included dance, voice, acting, directing, technical theatre, props, costuming, makeup, and so much more:
Blood, Guts, and Gore Props: Creating Special Effect and Life Casting Props
Industry Hip-Hop: In the Heights
The Art of the Audition for Actors and Directors
The Five Elements of Budgeting for a Stage Manager
The Show Must Go On… Line!
“Straight” Makeup for Theatre
Streaming and Licensing
8 Ways to Train Your Emotional Dragon (On and Offstage)
Digitizing the Fourth Wall - Technology Tips for Virtual Productions
Distance Virtual Ensemble Experiences for Cast and Class
How to Build a Musical: The Structure and Elements of Great Shows
Thespian Musicalworks - Everything You Need To Know
Musical Theatre Staging: Finding Clues in the Score
Bustles, Corsets, and Crinolines: Oh My!
Soul Stomping: African Dance on Broadway
Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate College Audition Workshop
Costuming 101: Learn to Costume A Show From Start to Finish
Musical Theatre Audition Techniques
How To Build a Musical: The Structure and Elements of Great Shows
Acting and Singing? At the Same Time? What?!
Directing a Musical in the Age of COVID-19
Solo Swing Dance Choreography
Voice Recording
Perspectives on Clowning: Living My Childhood Dream
The Tech Side of Booking a Touring Production
Puppetry 101
An Introduction to Model Making
Impulses Through Viewpoints
Getting Punchy: Comical Stage Fighting and Falls
How to Write When You Don’t Feel Like Writing
Non-Performance Careers in Theatre
Keep Calm, Be The Stage Manager
Ace It: Ace Any Theatre Audition
A Chorus Line Choreography
Venue Rentals from Inquiry to Final Billing
Character Development Through Dramaturgy
Workshop the New Play Winter Break
Sewing 101
Joy of Failure
Approaching Accents: Finding Accent Models
Exploring New Materials and Techniques to Create Useful Props
AUDITION? I Only Care About Your Story
LGBTQ+ Panel for Thespians
So, You Want a Main Stage Show to ITF?
Keep It 100: Critiquing in a True and Respectful Way
Tech-ing For Variety and Circus Performance
Stage Combat: Storytelling Through Violence and Technical Fighting
Deconstructing Hamilton
Hip-Hop Theatre: Finding Your Voice Through Verse
Improv: Destroy the Box
Intimacy for The Stage
Moulin Rouge Choreography
The Art of Projection Design
So, You Want to Direct: A Student’s Guide to Directing & Producing Plays
Acting from the Inside- Out: Find the Emotional Center of Material
Stage Fright: How to Calm Down and Show Your Talent!
What’s Your Story?
Shadow & Highlight: Creating Many Faces with Theatrical Makeup
Theatre Jazz: Hip- Hop and Contemporary Influences
Lighting Design Paperwork Tips and Tricks
Troupe Fundraising 101: If You Raise, They Can’t Cut It!
Main Stage Shows
Every year, ITF features a few shows from high schools around the world to perform live, but due to the current COVID situation, this obviously was not possible. Each of the Main Stage Shows was pre-recorded and still beautifully produced pieces of work, despite the lack of an in-person audience. Another perk to the online festival is that the participants are able to view each workshop and pre-recorded show for three months prior to the festival’s end! The Main Stage Marathon included:
42nd Street, presented by Troupe 1794, Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, IN (2016)
Big Fish, presented by the Texas All-State Cast and Crew (2016)
Bright Star, presented by Troupe 8104, Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn, VA (2019)
Dear America: Letters from Vietnam, presented by Troupe 66, Paola High School, Paola, KS (2015)
Eurydice, presented by Troupe 6290, Labette County High School, Altamont, KS (2017)
Fiddler on the Roof, presented by Troupe 1539, Edina High School, Edina, MN (2014)
Heathers, presented by Troupe 6896, J.J. Pearce High School, Richardson, TX (2016)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, presented by the Nevada All-State Cast and Crew (2017)
Mary Poppins, presented by Troupe 5134, Green Valley High School, Henderson, NV (2014)
A Midsummer Night's Dream, presented by Troupe 5464, North Penn High School, Lansdale, PA (2019)
Peter and the Starcatcher, presented by Troupe 1539, Edina High School, Edina, MN (2016)
She Stoops to Conquer, presented by Troupe 5464, North Penn High School, Lansdale, PA (2017)
Urinetown, Troupe 3147, Pittsburg High School, Pittsburg, KS (2018)
White Christmas, presented by Troupe 6547, Lincoln Southwest High School, Lincoln, NE (2015)
Zombie Prom, presented by Troupe 1794, Floyd Central High School, Floyd Knobs, IN (2007)
My favourite show of the ones I watched was J.J. Pearce High School’s Heathers because it was the first-ever school version of the musical to be produced and it was wonderfully performed!
Chapter Select Shows
The Chapter Select Shows were another series of outstanding one-act plays from high schools around the world. These included All Rights Reserved, Back Cover, Perfect, and Lockdown. The virtual showcase was sponsored by Dramatic Publishing Company and featured videos of and highlights from those productions.
College Fair
The festival also included great opportunities for upcoming juniors (and other grades if interested) to explore and meet with advisors from different universities ranging from The New York Film Academy to Columbia University. Every day from 10am to 4pm, a variety of college “booths,” formatted as online Zoom calls, were open to anyone who wanted to join and ask questions! The advisors were each spirited and welcoming and answered all my questions thoughtfully and quick. The college fair was also open for the entire week and I was able to attend 10+ college fair meetings!
Intermission + Curtain Calls
Every day during lunchtime, ITF offered a little break so attendees could go eat lunch and freshen up. During this time, they shared pre-recorded “Intermissions” including special guest appearances and showcases, discussions, and more. The intermission guest speakers/ performers included Jordan Fisher, Timothy Allen McDonald, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Megan Hilty, Stephen Schwartz, Tina Fey, Jeffrey Johnson, Miss Peppermint, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was extremely inspiring to see all these familiar faces performing while in quarantine and offering valuable advice to us aspiring thespians. The “Curtain Calls” were similar to the lunchtime “Intermissions,” but they were at night before everyone signed off for the day. Sarah Jane Arnegger from IHeart Radio Broadway and Micheal DiBianco led this series of one-hour interviews with well-known theatre professionals who shared their stories and advice.
Dramatists Discussions
One of the best elements of in-person ITF is being able to connect with the people who share the same interests as you and make tons of new friends! Unfortunately, this was not possible this year due to the safety regulations regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. Instead, there were little chat rooms twice a day via Zoom that allowed thespians to chat and get to know each other through the computer. These were each 30 minutes long and called “Dramatists Discussions.” The chat rooms ranged from topics like dance and song to lighting and technical design to open forum discussions. I think this was a great idea and kept the community aspect of the festival alive.
Overall, The International Theatre Festival was an empowering and exhilarating experience that reminded me of all the reasons why I love theatre. From the informational college booths and workshops to the interactive discussion sessions, I learned so much about all aspects of the theatrical process. I urge all my theatre lovers out there to continue to support and fund these theatre organizations who are doing everything they can to keep the art of theatre thriving and loved in the community. Keep learning, educating, reflecting, collaborating, collecting, and creating. In the words of Kenny Leon, “The Lights of Broadway Will Shine Again!”
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