February 2, 2017. I arrived at school at 8 AM eager to help my company load up our twenty-eight foot UHaul with the set of our production, “Ghost the Musical.” Finishing up load around 11 with the work of my amazing company, we began to head down to Blacksburg, Virginia towards Virginia Tech, aka home of the 2017 VA Thespian Festival!
After a 4 hour bus ride, my company and I arrived at our hotel to drop off our luggage, then we jumped right back on the bus to head to downtown Blacksburg and begin our load in. We pulled into the Haymarket Theater where we were greeted by the wonderful Virginia Tech Staff who would prove to be an immense help in our transition into this new space! We finished building out this intricate set and loaded the bus to head back to our hotel around 11 that night.
The next morning I boarded the bus at 8 AM to head to the festival where I had a busy and fun filled day ahead, filled with finishing the load-in, re-cueing, a run through, opening ceremonies, and our performance, all while helping out the STO’s, Adult Board members, and the wonderful chapter director Tori Kesling, with the festival set-up during any free moment that I had! After we finished our run through I put on my sash and headed out of the Haymarket to begin meeting all of the wonderful Virginia Thespians who attended festival this year! I then headed to opening ceremonies where I was finally able to see the entire delegation of 650 gathered in one place eager to begin! After the conclusion of Opening Ceremonies I ran back to the Haymarket in order to call my company's production of Ghost. The house began to fill up, then I called the first cue to begin the show. Two hours later we see Sam and Molly walk off opposite sides of the stage and a roar erupts from the crowd. I was taken back by all the support from our fellow Thespians. What a great ending to the first day of festival!
Day two began just as busy as the first with IE’s, College Auditions, Workshops, and collaboration being some of the few things that would fill my day. I arrived at festival around 9 AM from which I ran to college auditions with some fellow troupe members. After a wonderful interview, I headed across the street to present my IE for Stage Management of The Little Mermaid! Then I ran to my leadership workshop where I got to meet with many dedicated Thespians and phenomenal leaders! Right after wrapping up leadership, I ran across campus to teach a wonderfully successful NAPS workshop! I was even lucky enough to have some of my troupe members in attendance! Following the completion of my workshop I headed off to the Haymarket to assist First Colonial High School (Troupe 3178) with their production of Urinetown. My final task of the evening was to meeting with the STO’s and help with the setup of the ENCORE Dance that would immediately follow the conclusion of the Mainstage Productions. I returned to my hotel having completed a successful day two of festival!
The final day of festival arrived. However, that wouldn't mean an easy day! I began with a performance of my company's one act The Very Grey Matter of Edward Blank. After that I headed off to Closing ceremonies to say goodbye to all my wonderful Virginia Thespians before I boarded the bus to head home closing Virginia Thespian Festival 2017, I wished I could warp back in time to repeat the whole process over again.
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