#MOThesCon15 knows how to have the MOst fun!
Right off the bat we were working hard. On Thursday morning all hands were on deck to set up the registration center, the impressive silent auction table, and the ever-so-important snack table. The conference, held in Kansas City, was a well-oiled machine with a board of four STOs and an elect board of the four future STOs (shown below).
The festival began with keynote speaker J. Jason Daunter who inspired Missouri Thespians to "Dare to Dream". It was a privilege to see Mr. Daunter again after hearing him speak at other festivals and spending time with him in New York City over the summer. The speech left you tearing up then shortly had you crying from laughing so hard.
After a quick lunch with some new friends and a Starbucks run, I was ready to teach back-to-back workshops.
First up was "Six Ways to Hit Your Mark", my interactive leadership workshop. I was so pleased to see a large group of students interested in being leaders at their own schools and on a national level. Along with these students was Helen, a senior, but not in high school! This amazing, 67-year-old woman fully participated in the workshop including the exercise titled "I am" in which the group works as a team to lift a person completely in the air. How cool to see the power of teamwork and cooperation along with the complete trust of a woman in a group of kids! 
Next up was "NAPS", the cleverly-named advocacy workshop. When I walked into this workshop room I noticed that the sign on the wall had a suggested room capacity of 49 persons... Well, 89 thespians and teachers crowded into that room to take some NAPS and it was cozy, but incredible. (The above is my panoramic and blurry attempt to get all 89 people in one picture)
That evening, prior to the mainstage performance of "The Sound of Music", Missouri Thespians held a Minute to Give It Challenge to raise as much money as possible for the Missouri Send-a-Troupe grant. In 60 seconds the conference raised almost $700. The evening ended with "Late Night Activities" such as Improv Olympix and a hypnotist show! How could a Thursday be MO fun?
If I had to describe Friday in one word it would be "glowing". In order to hold a black-lit glow dance that evening the STO and STO Elect boards were given the task to sell $1,400 of glow merchandise. With creative slogans, new ideas, and a table dedicated to glow sticks, these leaders were able to reach the goal and sell all of the merchandise. Prior to dancing the night away at the glow dance, the conference saw a production of "Tarzan". I was absolutely blown away by the dedication and work evident in the show. What a treat!
Along with helping sell, I had the pleasure of attending two workshops by Mr. Jason Thomas Mayfield! Oddly enough, I met Jason on Wednesday night in the shuttle bus taking me to my hotel and struck up a conversation. He is a stand-up comic in The Big Apple, taught some amazing workshops, and will actually be attending future thespian conferences teaching more workshops!
Saturday was a bitter-sweet day. The STO board and stars of the two mainstage shows went on their auctioned coffee dates, we counted up the second round of Minute to Give it AND the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS silent auction table, we watched the IE showcase, hugged goodbye, and headed on home.
I am so thankful for the experiences, laughs,and the new friendships I made in at the Missouri Thespian Conference.
"Close to home, far from ordinary."