I returned to my home state of Arizona to attend the November Festival. Arizona Thespians rocked downtown Phoenix with 2600 Thespians attending the two day State Festival at the Convention Center filled with vendors, challenges, workshops, performances, and IEs. I was lucky enough to have Hans Weichart, EdTA, and Shaila Seth, ITO, as part of the team for the event.
Attendees explored a range of exhibitors and colleges right from the start. AZ Thespians hosted UA, ASU, NAU, GCU, and even schools from Colorado, California, and beyond. Exhibitors included popular summer programs, services, publishers, drama gear, and more!
The STO and Alumni both added a lot to the success of the AZ Festival. STO had a table with interactive “spin-the-wheel” games. Alumni were the primary security at the event. Both helped with the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS auction fundraising table filled with themed gift baskets from plenty of recognizable musicals.
On site, the team of Arizona Adult Board members kept everything running smoothly from the workshops to one acts to IEs to main stage to STO to the Tech Challenge. In fact, dozens and dozens of tech teams competed in hang and focus, props shift, and cable coiling. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many tech teams as in Arizona. Go Teams!
The Festival is really about…
And AZ Thespians had so many opportunities for Learning and Education in the workshops from which to choose that they filled both South and North buildings. One workshop I attended focused on Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed with unique exercises to connect ensemble and content.
Many thanks to troupe directors, chaperones, staff, and others who volunteered their time to make such an amazing event come together. I want to give a special shout out to Chapter Director Jenell Riordan, AZ Thespians State Board, Alumni and STOs, EdTA Hans Weichart (pronounced Y-cart) and ITO Rep Shaila Seth (pronounced Shy-lah) with whom I served over the weekend, for having such a successful event! Congratulations Arizona!
Oh, and thank you again for the gifts!
