This upcoming November is an exciting time for students involved in theater. On November 19th and 20th students from the Theatre and Tech Theatre programs will be heading to the Phoenix Convention Center for the annual State Thespian Festival. 

During the festival, students will be able to see a few shows put on by other schools attending. Schools throughout the state have put on their show, had it judged, and have been chosen to perform at the festival. 

In addition to these performances, there will also be a One Act competition as well as a tech competition for students involved in the “behind the scenes” of theater. Ironwood Ridge will not be competing in the One Act competition this year, however, the acts will be available for students to watch. These plays will be judged, and they will name a winner. 

The tech competition involves students in a team of four competing to complete different challenges the fastest. The challenges will be cabling and focusing a light (setting up a professional stage light), cable rolling (neatly rolls up a cable in the proper manner), a quick costume change, clove hitch and bowline knots, and drop folding the backdrop. Once students are done competing and watching shows, there will be a variety of workshops available. The topics of these workshops will range from stage combat to sound design to hip-hop dance. 

The entire event will be a great opportunity for students to learn new skills as well as get to know other theatre students from across the state. 

Unfortunately, the festival is not open to the public, so you do have to be a part of the theatre programs to attend. Students are excited for all the fun this year’s festival has to offer.