Last week I began to talk about the amazing things that one can do at the annual International Thespian Festival. This week I’ll move on to discuss the plethora of opportunities that await each and every Thespian who attends.


Not only is Festival one of the most fun weeks of the year, it is also an great week to see some amazing theatre. Sure, not every production, I.E., or actor is Tony-worthy, but you get a chance to see the wide range of talent from across the country. Even the less talented Thespians have such vigor and passion that it is simply exciting to watch them. Each day the whole of the Festival sees two “mainstage” shows. This year the shows ranged from Zoo Story to How to Succeed...


You are also given a full day to watch (or participate) in Individual Events. These range from Group Musical and Duet Scene to Costume Design and Pantomime. Those who compete in the I.E.’s are the best in the country: ranking Superior at the chapter level to qualify. And every year, at least one I.E. from each category is selected to perform in the National Individual Events Showcase (N.I.E.S.). This year we were very lucky; the rule that those performing on mainstage (Urinetown) were not able to be in the N.I.E.S. had been abolished. 


We had two I.E.’s that qualified for the N.I.E.S.: myself (for Stage Management) and Josh Brown & Alex Baggett (for their Duet Scene). I simply walked across the stage to acknowledge my victory, while Josh & Alex took it and performed their scene in front of a total of 3,100 people! Backstage I had the opportunity to assist the man running the N.I.E.S., Jason Daunter. He is a professional Stage Manager who is currently with the Broadway production of Wicked. He showed me how he worked and gave me many insights into the duties of a Stage Manager. He and I have continued to keep in touch.


Making long-distance relationships is a great thing to do at Festival. Making connections with professionals in the business is a huge step up, and it is a great way to better yourself. Of course, for an incoming Senior, like myself, it was also important to impress colleges. Anyone who attends Festival following their Junior year is eligible for college auditions (both for acting and stagecraft). You get the chance to meet with many teachers, administrators, and admissions faculty members. Each person from DSA that auditioned this year received a great deal of callbacks, and many were granted early acceptance into theatre programs across the country.


Going to Festival, though on the face of it may seem expensive, will, in fact, save you money if you are nearing your Senior year. It is very wise to visit the colleges that you are seriously considering, if just to get the feel for what it would be like to attend. If you go to the Festival and get the chance to meet with the staff of a college that intrigued you, only to find that the program just isn’t what you’re looking for, BOOM! You just saved one whole round-trip plane ride!


Next Week: As a Stage Manager, you need people you can depend on, and boy do we have those in Troupe 5869! Find out which two Thespians are truly the heros of Urinetown!


Hail Thespis!


G. Austin Allen

Department of the Treasury