The North Penn High School Thespian Troupe is preparing for the upcoming Pennsylvania State Thespian conference held at Central York High School December 4^th-7^th. The conference is a huge event for thespians all over PA where students will see performances from other schools, attend workshops, and compete in various events. This year, the conference will be a 1920’s theme. Our NPHS students look forward to this conference every year, not only to learn new techniques and approaches for own troupe, but also to share our accomplishments with the other attending troupes.

NPHS Thespian Troupe President, Jackson Simpson notes, “The State Conference provides an opportunity you cannot find anywhere else to connect with students across the state who all share your love of theatre. Everyone out there knows what it’s like to put months of long nights into getting a production up on stage. There is a respect and admiration between actors and crew members from different schools out there, and it’s great to make friends who you will later see when auditioning in the community or for college.”

This year, North Penn High School Theatre will be taking a main stage to States. At the conference, selected schools have the privilege to perform their own productions of a one act play, multiple act play, or musical on the main stage. Every attending school in the conference will be able to watch these performances. North Penn High School will be bringing our production of “Once in a Lifetime”, set in 1920’s Hollywood, to the main stage.

Senior Melissa Fuhr, who plays the lead May Daniels in the show adds “I am really looking forward to performing this show in front of an audience that will not only understand the amount of work involved but also be just as excited to see the play as we are to perform it.”

Thespians will also get the opportunity to compete for a chance to qualify for further competition at the International level in June. At the conference, Thespians can compete in Individual Events (I.E’s) that can be for acting, musical theatre, or technical theatre. Competing thespians will perform and present their prepared monologues, musical theatre song, or technical presentation in front of a panel of three judges who will score their performance. If the performance receives a 90% or above, called “superior ratings”, it qualifies the competing Thespian(s) to move on to Internationals in June. Thespians can also compete in group number I.E’s. senior Victoria Finley, junior Jamie Devine, and sophomore Natalie Clauser are competing with a trio I.E.

“Our trio from ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is so much fun! It has a ton of attitude and really showcases our voices. We cannot wait to come together with our best efforts at states. We just hope the judges enjoy our performance!” adds Finley.

Thespians can also choose to compete for senior scholarship opportunities. A prepared piece in acting, musical theatre, or technical theatre will be presented in front of a panel of judges to be scored. High scoring performances can qualify competing thespians to receive a scholarship to be used for college in any type of performing arts field. Senior Danica Clauser, who plans to plans to present a solo musical theatre piece for senior scholarship selection comments “In order to make the piece feel realistic and natural, I am approaching the song like a monologue and then adding music and blocking after the fact. The most important aspect is the acting because the judges are looking for a complete, consistent, and developed character.” Senior scholarship auditions at the conference present aspiring artists with great exposure to what real college auditions will be like.

Every year, North Penn High School Thespians bring their Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) efforts to the State Conference to raise funds for the cause. A table will be set up where Broadway memorabilia will be sold and auctioned off in a silent auction. Thespians also work diligently selling red ribbons and wristbands around at the conference.

Senior Lizzy Aleide and BC/EFA Co-Coordinator remarks “Well since this is my first year going to states I can’t say too much about it, but I am excited to be a part of BC/EFA this year because in the past years I know thespians have really been a big benefactor and helped make a difference. I am looking forward to keeping such a great tradition going”.