By: Natalie Lambert, Content Manager
Seminole’s Thespian Troupe will be attending District competition in late November, for the 2014-2015 school year. The Thespians, more commonly known as Troupe 3266, have prepared a series of performances and presentations to take to Districts for critique. The pieces that score highest or receive Best in Show/ Honorable Mention, will qualify to be taken to State competition.
District performances consist of IE’s (Individual Events) performed by separate members of the Troupe, and the One Act, a miniature play which is usually a collaborative effort. IE’s themselves, are typically split into tech, acting, and musical categories, all of which have their own multiple subcategories. Thespians audition for each category they would like to compete in, with Mrs. Ortiz, Seminole’s acting teacher, making the final decisions on who will compete. Each IE category has three slots that can be taken to Districts.
“I really would look forward to seeing the costuming and makeup design at districts. They’re always my favorite part to see when they perform,” says senior Allison Miller.
Acting IE’s consist of Duet Acting, Monologues, Ensemble Scene, and Pantomime. Caitlin Hutson, president of the Thespian Troupe, will be competing in the Monologue category, with selections from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Spoonface Springfield. Alyssa Eatherly and Alex Lowie are taking a comedic duet scene from the play Hurly Burly, dealing with the stress of one couple when deciding on a restaurant for dinner. Stokes & Company, competing in the Pantomime category, will be taking their self-created piece that takes a comedic play on video games, entitled Boss Battle.
Musical IE’s contain the Solo Musical, Duet Musical, Small Group Musical, and Large Group Musical categories. In this category, it is very important for those competing to not only be able to sing, but act and, on occasion, dance as well. Gabriel Burgos will be performing a number from the play Pippin, entitled “Extraordinary.” A Duet Musical piece “Who Will Love Me as I Am?” from Side Show, has been chosen to go to competition, with Jen Jambe and Edibel Perez.
Technical IE’s are a much broader group, and range from Student Directed Scene’s to Playwriting. These normally focus on what happens backstage at shows, with things such as costuming, lighting, sound, and makeup/hair. For Scene Design, an IE that requires competitors to build a miniature scene of their own design, Jenina Garde will be taking her own creation, inspired from the play, Peter and the Starcatcher. Taivyn Woody was chosen to take his Sound Design IE, based off of the play, The Diary of Anne Frank.
“I’m doing playwriting and student directing. Like all tech IEs, they both require a lot of time and effort, and both require me to work with others,” says junior Salwa Meghee.
As for the Troupe’s One Act, senior Shelby Buchanan will be student directing the piece The Staggering Heartbreak of Jasmine Merriweather. The thirty minute play is about a young girl named Jasmine, and her journey through overcoming a recent break up. There will be small crews for costuming, makeup/hair, art, and sound/lighting for the One Act to assist backstage.
Many other amazing pieces will be taken to Districts by exceedingly talented Thespians. Until competition, Thespians will continue to workshop and perfect pieces.
District dates are November 20th,21st, and 22nd, when Thespians will go to compete.
Senior Devon Stokes says “Districts is a learning experience for everyone involved. Whether you’re participating or observing, there’s something unique about Districts.”