Ah, theatre kids. They love the spotlight, have a constant flow of energy, and are a lot, to say the least. Well guess what? This theatre kid is going to rave to you about theatre right now! Are you still reading my words and paying attention? Yeah? Great! Jokes aside, it may come as a surprise to students that the drama department is a little more than some plays and improvisation games. Currently, a big focus of the department right now is their competition team, Thespians Troupe 2843.
Thespians is a theatrical honor society in which students perform or present in a category of their choosing, ranging from group and solo musical numbers to set and costume designs. It’s a place for future script writers, directors, actors, fashion designers, and more. Our branch is sponsored by Ms. Catell, run by our two co-presidents, Zachary Williams and Anna Wright, and consists of over 20 members.
The team competes at two district competitions, known as Southwest Florida Theatrical Society (SWFLTS) and International Thespian Conference, which are on the 14th and 21st, respectively. The way the district branches are run is very similar. Competitors present their piece to a classroom of judges and fellow attendees. If it is a technical event, they receive feedback, questions, and critiques in-person from each judge, whereas performance pieces will receive critiques and feedback digitally. The only difference between the two is the team presents itself as a company, Hurricanes Theatre Company, rather than as a troupe.
If the members perform well, receiving a “superior” rating, they then can move on to their respective state level opportunities. SWFLTS is a relatively new and small competition compared to Thespians. Under the branch of SWFLTS, students may go on a three-day trip to Disney, attending workshops in acting or costume design, and later exploring the Magic Kingdom for a day. If the group scores high this year, it will be the first time they attend the event.
As for the International Thespian Conference, the state level is referred to as Florida Thespian State Festival, a four-day trip to Tampa that is any theatre kid’s dream. Any student can take up to four workshops per day ranging from Broadway choreography or costume design to the more eccentric events such as Puppetry 101. This gathering takes up the majority of the Tampa Convention Center, which is about 600,00 square feet of theatre kids. (Side note: If that doesn’t stray you away, you should consider auditioning for the troupe next year). In the evenings, troupes can view handpicked high school mainstage productions in the Straz or historical Tampa Bay Theatre. These productions are the best of the best in Florida high schools, from their storytelling and acting talents to their prop and costume budgets. It is an excellent chance to expand upon your current performance arts skills with skilled professionals or even celebrity guests. The best way to receive specific, direct advice is by opting to compete a piece once more for the more experienced judges.
“I think, what I love most, is seeing everyone’s passion and dedication throughout the whole process… we all care so much about what we do, and have so much fun with it, truly,” remarks Anna Wright (12), theatre co-president.
If you want to support the drama department and see what it is all about, there are a few events you might consider attending: firstly, the annual Talent Show on October 16th, and secondly, this year’s fall play, Blithe Spirit with performances on November 3rd and 4th. If you want to participate in the fun yourself, stop by Ms. Catell’s classroom every Wednesday afternoon for drama club.
