I am so excited to have recently come back from my first state festival of the year in Connecticut! I arrived at New Haven, Connecticut on the Friday before the festival began and was met by five of the six wonderful CT STOs. They were having a sleepover at one of the STO’s houses to prepare and finalize details for the Festival the next day. They accepted me with warm, open arms, and I cannot be more thankful for the hospitality and generosity I received during my time there. That night we accomplish much of the planning and organizing for workshops and announcements needed for the next day, as well as creating connections circle necklaces that participants in our individual color-coordinated circle would wear in the attempt to meet other thespians from across the state. We finish our work late that night, exhausted but exhilarated for the next day.
We woke up the next morning energized and excited! After a quick breakfast and gathering all of our materials, we headed over to Simsbury High School where the event was being held. I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful chapter directors Marydell Merrill and Liza McMahon, and also reconnecting with Mark Drum, the EdTA rep. The STOs and I set up different fundraising functions that morning before the festival began, including a BC/EFA raffle table and a concession stand raising money for CT Thespian scholarships. We got into costume for the Halloween themed festival just as buses full of students arrived, and the conference opened with the STOs introducing our guest speaker, Jason Daunter! He took time out of his busy schedule on the national tour of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder to speak with the Thespians, and we were so thankful to have him. Jason's discussion about how theater influenced his life and the importance of giving back to ITS and EdTA inspired everyone in the room, especially the STOs eager to have a picture with him afterwards!
After wrapping up opening ceremonies with connection circles, all the CT thespians headed off into their first workshop sessions. The STOs and I were manned the fundraising tables and ran around making sure all the presenters and adults had everything they needed. I later taught my leadership workshop, Roll With It, to a group of awesome and energetic Thespians whom I’m so happy to have worked with. It was then on to lunch, where we had a Chipotle-catered array of food, and different college representatives
set up tables and spoke with the students about their future careers with theater. Later, as more workshop sessions continued, we sold out of raffle tickets for Broadway Cares merchandise and even raised over $100 for CT Thespians scholarships through the Minute-to-Give-It fundraiser!
My day wrapped up with Connecticut Thespians as I held assisted the STO in their leadership workshop, as well as reviewed applications and helped select the STO board for next year. The group of student leaders in that state is inspiring and growing stronger every year, and I'm so happy I was able to see the amazing work they are doing. A huge thank you to the CT Thespians, who were so kind to me and Mark Drum, I’m so thankful for the opportunity to have attended. Make sure to stay connected with all of the different events that the ITO are attending this year by following us on all of our social media (@internationalthespianofficers on Instagram, @ITOOfficial on Snapchat, The International Thespian Officers on Facebook, @ITOChair on Twitter)!