If you spent a significant amount of time in upper E hall on Friday the 17th, you probably wondered why a group of students in bright blue t-shirts were pushing around a creaky, cumbersome ladder and removing the signs above the doorways of teachers’ classrooms. Well, those students (and many more) were preparing VHHS to host the Alabama Thespian Festival.
The Alabama Thespian Festival, which happens every year in February, draws students from around the state for competitions and workshops. There are competitions for every aspect of theatre ranging from technical events like makeup design and playwriting to acting events like duet scenes and group musical. Meanwhile, when not competing, students can attend a variety of workshops. This year, former VHHS teacher Gary Weatherly hosted a scenic painting workshop. His highly-rated and popular workshop taught students the basics of scenic painting (like what type of paint to even use) as well as his own expert tricks (like how to paint an entire backdrop without having to bend down). Additionally, students were given the opportunity to see shows by other schools competing to represent Alabama at the International Thespian Festival.
With all these events, it suffices to say that hosting the festival isn’t easy. It requires the help of the school’s entire theatre department and numerous parent volunteers. VHHS students and parents are responsible for managing the cafeteria, monitoring the halls, showing guest artists around the school, and everything else necessary for the festival to run flawlessly.
And yet the hard work required by students to work the festival does not stop them from enjoying it. As senior Emma Mitchell, a Thespian Honor Society member and four-time festival participant, reflects, “Festival is a great place to learn more about theatre and make friends with people who share a common interest with you!”
The hard work and fun also does not prevent VHHS students from winning. Around half of the school’s theatre department competed in the festival’s various events. And, despite having to spend most of their time working the festival, many of them ranked superior and received special recognition in their categories. A total of eight students ranked superior: (senior) Natalie Turnage, (senior) Reagan Kessler, Colton Smith, (senior) Dakota McGrew, (senior) Jalen Oliver, (senior) Ruihuang “Ray” Ding, (senior) Shay Lindsey, Emma Fannin, and Finley Stephenson. Impressively, three VHHS students were selected to serve as Student Thespian Officers (STOs) next yeat. STOs represent the state of Alabama and work to improve theatre education in the state. The three Vestavia students chosen were Rebecca Cook, Rachel Simmons, and Finley Stephenson.
The success of these students truly would not have been possible without the dedication and drive of VHHS theatre teacher Mrs. Stephenson. Mrs. Stephenson encouraged her students and showed them how to host the best festival possible. As Mrs. Stephenson is the festival director, she organized every aspect of the event from the guest artists to the hallway decorations. Her tireless effort allowed every student to enjoy and learn from the festival. Not to be forgotten, government and economics teacher Mrs. Varner worked alongside Mrs. Stephenson to manage the festival. She models to every student that you don’t have to have a career in theatre to enjoy it—or to help other people enjoy it, either.
The work of parents, students, and faculty that allows VHHS to host the Alabama Thespian Festival each year testifies to Vestavia Hills’s wonderful community and high school. It is only because of the efforts of these individuals—no matter how small their contributions—that the festival is able to happen, creating a place where volunteers and competitors alike can deeply immerse themselves in the beauty of theatre.
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