2000International Thespian Festival hits Lincoln
THESPIANS from page 6
Michael Peitz, executive director
of the Educational Theatre
Association. “It’s a chance to
showcase the finest high school
theatre in the country.”
Over 2,600 student thespians
and chaperones have settled into
UNL dorms to celebrate their
shared passion for the stage.
During the week of June 26
July 1, two main stage shows,
which have been pre-selected
through auditions, are performed
each day by students for students
in the Lied Center and in the
Howell Theatre. Also, the stu
dent thespians can choose from a
number of one act plays per
formed by fellow participants in
the festival. Performances
include zany comedy in
Nunsense, Shakespeare’s The
Tragedy of Macbeth and the
intense drama of sexual assualt
in Intimate Betrayal.
Nancy Brown, director of the
festival, said she hoped the festi
val would broaden students’
knowledge of theatre genres
through performances.
“It’s not just high school
musicals,” she said. “We want to
expose them to a variety of
plays,” she said. There’s comedy,
drama, farce, all kinds for them
to learn about.”
Also offered to the student
thespians are a variety of work
shops aimed to sharpen the
young actors’ talents in areas of
acting, directing, playwriting,
dance, movement, improvisa
tion, costuming, makeup and set
design.
Aaron Morris, 14, of
Cincinnati, Ohio, said the festi
val is a great way to learn about
specific areas of interest in the
atre.
“I’m going to check out the
improv and ensemble work
shops,” he said. “I mean, it’s
always good to learn anything to
improve.”
Sara Landis, 16, of York, Pa.,
who attended a script analysis
workshop, said, “You learn about
so much more than acting. You
can learn about literature, public
speaking, history, and even math
and science.”
Also, representatives from
30 colleges will be on hand dur
ing the festival for student audi
tions.
Chris Adams, 17, of Jackson,
Miss., said he hoped to win a
((Its not just high school musicals.
We want to expose them to a
variety of plays. There s comedy,
drama, farce, all kinds for them to
learn about.
Nancy Brown
director, International Thespian Festival
scholarship from his audition.
WI was less nervous than I
thought,” he said with a laugh.
“But I’m looking to go for
Roosevelt College in Chicago.”
Opportunities like late night
dances and variety shows let stu
dents mingle with other student
thespians during the festival.
Said Brown: “This is a week
long celebration of high school
theatre. She said, “We want to
fine tune some skills, but we
want the kids to have fun and
make friends at the same time.”
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