Theatre groups slated for international event

KYLE — The theatre organizations from each of the Hays CISD high schools are partnering together for a fundraiser to send students to the International Thespian Event in Bloomington, Indiana in June.

Initially, students competed in the Texas Thespian Festival in the Fall of 2023, then found out in November if they qualified to continue to the international competition, according to Lehman High School Theater Director Mary Fournier. Some students, however, were unable to attend and submitted a video entry, where they found out whether they qualified in February 2024.

In the past, students have qualified, but have not been able to attend due to the cost. This year, a total of 12 students were ranked superior to head to the International Thespian Festival:

• Elizabeth Neal (LHS)

• Seth Rivas (LHS)

• Brooke Sterling (LHS)

• Zoe Zuniga (LHS)

• Hanna Bergmann (Hays High School)

• Giulianna Coco (HHS)

• Kaylie Ramirez (HHS)

• Furious Richmond (HHS)

• Kaya Shellhammer (HHS)

• Arybella Torres (HHS)

• Bear Williams (HHS)

• Abigail Piggott (Johnson High School)

“There are different events that they can compete in. Some of them compete in acting events or technical events. A lot of our students that qualified competed in musical events, duet acting, duet musical or [a] solo musical. They have to prepare various pieces for those events and present them to a panel of three judges. The judges evaluate them and rank them based on their performance. Then, their average score is what gets them to nationals,” explained Fournier.

For example, LHS students Brooke Sterling and Elizabeth Neal will be competing with a duet musical performance from “[Title of Show]”, where they choreographed the number and will sing and portray the characters at the upcoming event.

The fundraiser, which is being held through the platform Vertical Raise, is to pay for the flight tickets and transportation costs for the students.

“The district is picking up a large portion of the costs,” said Lobo Booster Club President c. “It’s amazing that the district is helping them attend. If we could get everybody airfare and travel, they can get there. It would be an amazing opportunity.”

Students attending will not only perform for the judges, with a potential callback and the possibility of performing on the main stage, but also have the chance to attend professional workshops with people who work in the industry.

Fournier explained that one of her former students attended and she received a shock when she opened up her phone to a selfie of him and Jesse Eisenburg. He had been participating in a 24-hour play and met the actor: “To work with literally a professional from the film industry, there’s just a really cool opportunity for our students to get a real world authentic learning experience,” she said.

“I just want to thank our theatre teachers for creating this opportunity for [the students], taking them to the state-wide festivals, so that they could have this opportunity to go to a national level,” said Taylor.

The director explained that the fundraiser also takes corporate sponsorships, so it is open to any local businesses who would like to support the arts.

The Vertical Raise fundraiser, located at bit.ly/4anA2OL, will end on March 29, but those who want to continue to donate after can visit hhs-theatre-boosters.square.site. Any donation that exceeds the $3,000 goal will be put toward next year’s expenses.