This year the PHS International Thespian Society Troupe 4438 attended the annual ITS Nebraska State Festival at the Holland Center. Ten members of the troupe attended the festival this year. The festival was January 2-4, 2025. The ITS festival hosted multiple plays and musicals for students to enjoy. Additionally, there were many workshops for thespians to attend and learn from.
Trojan thespian Maren Ferguson (11) submitted a play that she wrote into the ITS competition for an opportunity for her piece to be performed on stage in front of a live audience. Out of the dozens of playwright entries, Maren’s play was the single piece selected to be acted out on stage in front of all of the troupes.
The festival started on Thursday with many excited to experience the festival this year. Students attended workshops after watching plays that schools performed. Kate Martin (12) commented, “I got to attend a dance workshop where we learned a dance number from The Music Man and I got work with the same director I’ve worked with before. I love learning new dance numbers in a short amount of time.” The large variety of workshops offered at the festival allowed for each student to find an aspect of theater that interested them to explore in depth.
On Friday, the opening ceremonies and banner parade commenced. Marlee Ferguson (11), Maren Ferguson (11), Ada Henager (12), and Kate Martin (12) carried out Platteview’s troupe’s flag. After the opening ceremonies, thespians watched Dani Girl, She Kills Monsters, and Frankenstein. The Trojan students attending went out to lunch and walked down to Hollywood Candy before the next show. Hudson Schuyler (10) described, “This was my first year going and I really enjoyed all they had. The plays were excellent and were very fun to watch. I really enjoyed going out to lunch with everyone and then going to Hollywood candy.” Once the curtains closed after the final show that evening, thespians could either participate in an escape room or other late night activities.
Saturday was the last day of the ITS festival. The day started off with the show The Sleeping Beau, a musical written by a 16-year-old student. After the show was over, thespians then went to the final three workshops of this year’s festival. Students could attend many different types of workshops from learning how to improve their acting skills or learning how to prepare for a successful show. “My favorite workshop was the one called ‘How not to be a boring actor.’ I learned a lot of things that will help me with One Act next year, and it was super fun,” Erin Wyss (11) said.
The festival wrapped up with an award ceremony, improv competitions, and with Maren Ferguson performing her play, titled Vocation Vex, with actors that she herself casted. Closing ceremonies were held and then everyone packed up and headed home after a fun, life-changing festival.
