Thespian Festivals

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 12:56pm

I'm about to go one for the first time in Wichita Falls, Texas, and am unsure how it works. Is it somewhat like a film festival where you just go from show to show all day? Or are there, like, workshops you can go to? What's a typical day like?

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:30pm

If it's anything like the one in Nebraska, then yeah, you pretty much just watch a bunch of musicals and such. Unless you're auditioning for colleges (if they have unifieds at the one in texas) then thats pretty much it.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 2:17pm

Each state is pretty much different, depending on the amount of schools involved, location of the conference, etc. Usually, it's just as you described a large collection of plays and musicals that you can see, workshops, and there are individual competitions as well(these differ from state to state). Some conferences last a few days and include dances, professional shows, and other fun stuff. I used to LOVE Thespian COnference. It was literally my favorite week(end) every year in high school and I've gone back several times to teach.

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 9:59am

hm, well for our PA conference, we see musical performances, pieces from plays, go to workshops, compete in both group and indivisual competitions, and have a dance...ours last 4 days

[gumbo2]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 7:20pm

Did you go to the National conference in Nebraska anyone? Yeah, it's mostly a lot of watching plays and musicals from other high schools in the state, and also there are solo performers who do monologues or songs or scenes. It's usually a good time.

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 10/31/05 at 2:01am

I've never been to a state thespian festival, but our school has gone to the International Thespian Festival a couple of times. We brought "Sweeney Todd" this past year and then "Parade" in 2003. I think we also went with "Mystery of Edwin Drood" in 2001 and "Godspell" in 1998, but I wasn't in those ones. If you ever get to be part of a mainstage show, it's one of the most memorable experiences of your life. It's amazing to perform for 2,300 kids who are just as passionate as theater as you are. We're gonna try to bring "AIDA" this summer so I'm really really excited.