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By STO Marisa Berrones
Are you interested in design but don’t know where to start? Well, this is a good place to look! We asked Texas Thespians across the state what questions they had about theatrical design and answered them to the best of our abilities. So let’s soar into theatrical design. Q: What does theatrical design encompass? A: There are four areas of theatrical design: scenery, lighting, costuming, and sound. Without any of these areas, the show will be missing a crucial part of the experience you get from live theatre. Q: When a tech crew is working on designing a show, how can you make sure everyone is on the same page and properly communicating? A: While it may seem like an easy answer, the best way to make sure everyone is communicating effectively is to talk. My favorite way to communicate is by sending out rehearsal reports after each rehearsal and making sure everyone reads it by adding a few questions in! Q: What skills do you need in order to do lighting design? A: Whether you are new to tech, or have been a part of the crew for years and are just starting to learn the ropes of light design, there are no skills needed prior to joining. Just come prepared with a ready-to-learn attitude and lots of extra paper! Q: What is the average size of a set? A: There isn’t one! Every show is different and every stage is different so there is no average set size! Q: In theatrical design, how often do you view the set from the audience’s view? A: I personally look at the set from the audience’s view every time the set is put up and taken down. I also take pictures from the middle of the auditorium to compare the set from other perspectives. For my OAP set last year we changed the setup nearly every day, so watching from the middle and back of the auditorium was crucial to our set design. Q: How does viewing a set design from the audience change the final layout and mapping of the stage? A: Viewing the set from the audience’s perspective allows directors to see where the performers may be hidden, light cues need to be fixed, or props need to be moved. Another part of sitting in the audience during a rehearsal is being able to see if any dialogue is misheard or if any sound cues are too low. Q: What is the average amount of time it takes to fully design a show? A: The average amount of time it takes to design a show is around 4-6 months, but that does not include the hours of rehearsals used to get every last cue exactly how it needs to be. Now go out there, and design those shows! Best of luck, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers
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By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for… Broadway is finally making its way back onto the stage! After a long wait, shows will finally be opening back up starting in September. Let's take a look at some of the productions we will be seeing back in swing next month! Hadestown Being one of the first shows to reopen, the cast and crew of Hadestown are ready to get back into the saddle! This show will be opening starting September the second. Before their Broadway return, Hadestown has toured in South Korea, these performances being first non-English productions of the show. The North American tour will begin on October fifteenth in D.C.. What an excellent show to kick off the reopening! Waitress Waitress is also reopening on September second! Sara Bareilles is set to star in her musical as the central role come opening day. Waitress’s first show back will take place at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, a new stage for this company seeing that the original production was performed at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (which is now the home to the musical Six!). Dear Evan Hansen Lastly, Dear Evan Hansen will be reopening on December eleventh. Casting has yet to be announced, but everyone is eager for the list. The London production of the show will be opening back up on October twenty-sixth. The North American tour for Evan Hansen is set to get on the move December seventh. Excited for the things to come, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By STO Abi Colburn, The Woodlands High School, Troupe 1053
It has come that time to start auditioning for high school shows. Here are some tips and tricks so you will absolutely rock your audition:
2. Know your character. Read up on the show you are auditioning for; it gives you an idea of what the directors are looking for. 3. Don’t be nervous. Everyone gets nervous, but try to remember that the directors are on your side. They want you to be the person that they have been looking for. 4. Don’t apologize. In your audition, don’t be overly apologetic. Be confident in yourself and you will rock it! 5. Don’t be afraid to make choices. Many directors are looking for fresh perspectives to work with. If you have an idea that fits your character and piece, go for it! 6. Pick material from published plays. If you are asked to perform a monologue, pick one from a published play. Directors much prefer it and it makes it easier on you because you can find out exactly what your character is going through using the play. 7. BREATHE. Auditioning can be a very scary thing. You are putting yourself out there in front of directors in the hopes of being casted. Just breathe, taking deep breaths helps calm the nervous system and then you will be more confident in your audition! Hopefully these tips will help you succeed in rocking your high school auditions! And remember, it's just high school. It is not the end of the world if it doesn’t go the way you want it to. Sincerely, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Marisa Berrones, Midland High School, Troupe 3376  STO Deonte Sanseverino was a part of Troupe 7556 at Pottsboro High school, where he worked as a tech and cast member. He served on the 2016 STO Board when the theme was “Home”. He is now an Electrical Engineering college student.
Q: What was it that made you want to run for the STO position? A: Getting to work with talented individuals from across Texas. Being on the National Qualifying All-State Show Big Fish helped me see that I wanted to spread out more. Q: What is your favorite memory of being an STO? A: Socktober, our final planning meeting in October for festival! Q: What was your favorite musical then? What is it now? A: Hamilton, it still is Hamilton. Q: What did you learn then that you still carry with you? A: Be agile, things don’t always go as planned but they have to be carried out somehow. Q: What would you have done differently in high school? A: Focused more on SAT/ACT instead of my class rank. Q: What would you have done differently in your troupe? A: I would have done more teambuilding events! Q: What would you have done differently as an STO? A: I would have visited more neighboring troupes! Q: If you could send your troupe one message what would it be? A: Act well your part, for there all the honor lies, and that applies beyond just theatre you know! Would you like to be like Deonte and represent Texas Thespians? Check out how to become an STO here! By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
As the new school year draws ever so near, the concoction of nerves and excitement is producing a strong brew. What will I wear the first day? When will our first auditions be? Will people like my new haircut? Did I personalize my school supplies too much? Don’t stress, this blog has got your back! Here is some advice for each grade, school and theatre related, that will hopefully mellow out all those emotions you’re experiencing. Freshman: First and foremost, BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELVES!!! High school can already be a stressful place, so there is no need to exhaust your energy pretending to be someone you’re not. By being true to yourself and your personality, you will find where you fit in much quicker and make friends faster as well. Confidence is key! Keep in mind everyone is made unique and our differences are what makes us special and great. In regards to theatre, familiarize yourself with your director(s) and peers. Experiment with different jobs in the department and figure out what you like to do best! Sophomores: Now that you have the general idea about what high school is and what it has to offer, try something new! This could be theatre related, or pertain to some other activity. Find a new hobby, join a new club, or push boundaries into new territory. Maybe switch it up and give improv a shot, or try your hand in the lighting booth. There is so much to explore, so why not try as much as possible?! Juniors: Hate to break it to you, but this year is the heaviest when it comes to academic work. College entrance exams are super important to your future, so study, study, study! When you have free time make sure you are preparing for college auditions or focusing on your best skills. Make yourself impressive so you get into your dream school, or get that perfect job after graduation. We believe in you! Seniors: This year will be truly bittersweet. Take this year to focus on what’s important, reminisce on what you have accomplished, and have fun! Take that last bow with pride and know that you have done well. However, don’t neglect your responsibilities, high school isn’t over just yet. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Folarin Oyeleye, Foster High School, Troupe 7961, and STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
Themes are a great way to make ideas take flight! You can use a theme for pretty much anything. Parties and special occasions are where themes are most commonly found, but as most of you likely know, each year the STO’s plan a theme for Thespian Festival that happens every November! However, the question is, how do you create and execute a theme? With a little hard work, a great crew of people, and some fun ideas, any theme can be executed turbulence free! The first thing to do when coming up with a theme is to brainstorm. Let’s say you’re planning a social event for your troupe to celebrate the winter holidays; the troupes’ board should come together and air out some ideas that could fit the type of celebration. Your theme could be traditional or something a little more quirky! It’s all up to what best fits the needs of your troupe. Next, you’ll want to plan out your theme in its entirety. Figure out how you’ll come together as a crew and steer your ideas in the right direction. This step will be very detail oriented, and will require you to think about a variety of things. For example, will you be serving food at the gathering? Who will pay for this food? Does anyone in the troupe have allergies? Things like decorations, time and place, and activities will also need to be thought out in order for your theme to truly take flight. After everything is planned you’ll want to start gathering your resources. Who will be able to host the event and where can you have it? If you need funding for the social, think of how you can get it or if someone would sponsor you. Also, this step will include actually setting up your social or banquet. This process will be a breeze if you have all hands on deck, ready and willing to work. Obviously, creating and accomplishing the theme won’t be as easy as it sounds on paper. This task can be a grueling one and it might require you to travel to great lengths in order to make your ideas work the way you want them to. Trust us, we went through a lot of that this year. However, if you put your mind to it and stay determined, there’s nothing you can’t do! Let your theme ideas soar, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Folarin Oyeleye, Foster High School, Troupe 7961
You there! Yes, you. You seem like quite the theatrical nerd— and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Whether you’re already involved in theatre at your school, or just looking for an excuse to leave the house, joining your local theatre has many benefits worth reaping. For our seasoned thespians it allows you a new environment to sharpen your skills, and for our soon to be brethren…it’ll give you something fun to do! So just listen, or rather read the handy instructions I’ve got for you. How to join a community theatre the Folarin way...which is basically the same as all the others. Step 1- Gather Intel Before we can join a troupe you have to look for one first. There are a few ways to handle this approach. If you do theatre at school, a good way to find some information would be by asking your directors for help. If you’re really lucky they might even be able to hook you up with an audition. My reasoning behind this? My reasoning is, high school directors seem to have an array of connections. However, if you’re not that lucky they might just look on google for you. Actually, that helps segue into my other method: Google! Just type in Community Theatre near me and the internet will give you plenty of options to choose from. Now all you need to do is speak to whichever place you chose and acquire the necessary information Step 2- Audition! Wow, congrats to you for landing an audition. Now you just have to nail it. What you can expect in a regular audition is to perform a monologue or song you had prepped or even just a few cold and chemistry reads. If you want to learn more about monologues and cold reads there are plenty of “How To…” videos on youtube worth watching. On the off chance that maybe acting isn’t your thing you can always try your hand at being a techie. The auditions might be different and will likely include you just answering a few questions so that they place you where they see fit. However, you don’t have to worry because there will always be people willing to help you learn. Step 3- It’s Showtime Well, now you just have to perform! You’ve spent many hours rehearsing, and you’ll never get that time back so you might as well go all out. Whether you’re helping out backstage or acting, all you’ve got to do now is live in the moment and have fun. Make it an experience worth remembering. Curtain Call That’s been my easy peasy three step guide on how to join a community theatre. Hope y’all enjoyed it, but I hope you enjoy the feeling of being a thespian even more! And hey, who knows, maybe you might even invest in your future Broadway career because of this. Just make sure when that happens you remember your old pal, Fo. Till next time, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Marisa Berrones, Midland High School, Troupe 3376  STO Rachel Metzler was a part of Troupe 1053 at The Woodlands High school, where she filled the role of stage manager. She served on the 2017 STO Board where the theme was Adventure Awaits. Rachel’s board was the first board to serve at The Gaylord! She now works in Public-Relations, Branding, and Advertisement, as well as stage-managing locally. For the past two years, Rachel has offered several workshops at Festival and will continue that streak this year! Additionally, she will be working as one of the stage managers for Mainstage Events at the 2021 Festival!
Q: What was it that made you want to run for the STO position? A: I was passionate about arts advocacy and giving students the same experiences that completely shaped who I have become as a person. Texas is full of so many of those incredible stories and I wanted to be able to help share them. Q: What is your favorite memory of being an STO? A: The close friendships I have made and opportunities from being an STO are ones that I will truly never forget. I'm still close to people on the board from my year, and even the years before and after. Being able to see how everyone has grown and taken on their own adventures has been so rewarding to see! The late nights at STO camp were also quite a highlight! Q: What was your favorite musical then? What is it now? A: My senior year, Big Fish was a really special show to me- and it still is! Come From Away and Ordinary Days definitely have to be two of my favorites though. Q: What did you learn then that you still carry with you? A: Aside from all of the practical experience with event planning and learning Zoom so early on (lol), I definitely learned a lot about myself as a leader, both in my troupe and as an STO. I think that's made me more consistent as a leader throughout college and as I graduate because I was able to figure out those things so early on. It made me more self-aware and that has truly been beneficial. Q: What would you have done differently in high school? A: I would have spent less time thinking about the "drama" that comes from being in high school with others. Things can seem so large-scale and might be at the time, but as cliché as it is, many things don't matter down the road. You have to think about what is best for you personally as opposed to what's best for everyone else sometimes (not all the time), and I wish I had given that a bit more consideration at times in high school. Q: What would you have done differently in your troupe? A: I had a phenomenal experience in my troupe and I don't know if there are too many things I would have changed. If anything, I'd say spending more time reaching out to other troupes to learn from each other and be together. We definitely started doing that, but I wish we had done it more. Q: What would you have done differently as an STO? A: I think I would have pushed for more social engagement and fun social initiatives! Social media was definitely a thing and growing at the time, but it hasn't been until the past few years where I've seen the community that it gives an organization. It's great to see Texas Thespians leaning into that now! Q: If you could send your troupe one message what would it be? A: My senior theatre brick says "may your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." I would hope that for anyone in my troupe, or any troupe really. The cool thing about high school is while there feels like there can be so much at stake, it is a great opportunity to mess up, learn, and just be together with the people you love because it really might be the last time that all the people you love are in one place together. I still look back so fondly on my time in my troupe and the people I was able to spend time with! Would you like to be like Rachel and represent Texas Thespians? Check out how to become an STO here! By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
2021 is bringing on changes and new faces! This year we have nineteen STOs on the board, which means there are nineteen names to learn. Don’t stress though! This task should be an easy one after reading this blog post. Take this as a formal first introduction to the members of the 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers. STO: Abi Colburn, age 17 Board Position: I am one of the Co-Vice Chairs. My job is to oversee the candidates at festival and help Philanthropy when needed. Actor or Technician: I am an actor, specifically I love performing in musicals. Hobbies: I enjoy reading and studying history. Favorite Animal: Red panda. STO: Avery Martin, age 17 Board Position: Leadership Academy Co-Chair. Actor or Technician: Actor, I have teched a handful of shows but majority of the time I act. Hobbies: My main hobby is reading. I’ve read for 14 hour straight before which is definitely not healthy but I could not help myself. Favorite Animal: Penguins. STO: Brenna Kenney, age 16 Board Position: I am honored to serve as the Chair of the STO Board this year! That means I oversee all of our work, keep effective communication with the STOs and Adult Board, make sure everything is running smoothly, schedule and update our calendars and Google Drive, and make sure we meet all deadlines efficiently. Actor or Technician: I am an actor! I mainly do straight plays but I also sing a little in the ensemble for musical season! Hobbies: I run cross country, like to hang out with my friends, watch Grey’s Anatomy, and I work at Tropical Smoothie Café! Favorite Animal: Elephants! STO: Brooke Ferrell, age 17 Board Position: I'm the co-advocacy chair! That means I handle advocacy workshops, development of information materials on theatre advocacy, inclusivity initiatives, and of course, Theatre In Our Schools Month! Actor or Technician: I'm both! I was a child film actor, and I perform whenever I get the opportunity. However, theatre has helped me expand my boundaries, and so I've now been a three-time properties mistress, two-time costuming head, and assistant director! Hobbies: I write a lot, mainly about queer representation. I also knit, crochet, rock climb, and captain the Name That Book team at my school. Favorite Animal: Elephant. STO: Folarin Oyeleye, age 15 Board Position: I am the Co-Blog Chair. My job includes coming up with blog ideas and scheduling when posts go up. Actor or Technician: Actor. Hobbies: Some of my hobbies include reading, writing, drawing, crocheting, cooking, and playing D&D. Favorite Animal: Pandas. STO: Gabriel “Gabe” Brock, age 17 Board Position: I am one of the two Vice Chairs and that means I am there to help the other chairs on the board with anything they may need technical, content, or editing. I also oversee STO candidacy in the fall. Actor or Technician: I am an actor but also a lighting designer, scenic designer, and stage manager. Hobbies: I love photography (follow me on Instagram @gbphotoco), and also love to sing, cook, and hike. Favorite Animal: Black panthers. STO: Gentry Phillips, age 17 Board Position: I am a Co-Blog Chair! I write and oversee the process of creating blogs for the website. Actor or Technician: I am primarily a dramatic actor, but I plan on writing and directing plays as a career. Hobbies: My hobbies include writing, making collages, reading, and fashion! Favorite Animal: Opossum's. STO: Gonzalo Delgado, age 16 Board Position: Philanthropy Chair, I help give back to the communities that want to see us succeed. Actor or Technician: Actor, though recently I've been getting more into directing. Hobbies: Making short films, mixing music, and hanging out with friends. Favorite Animal: Kittens. STO: Jace Petrovich, age 17 Board Position: Social Media Co-Chair, manage the social media for Texas Thespians and help design graphics for anything needed such as the website, social media accounts, or pamphlets. Actor or Technician: Technician! I’m a lighting designer. Hobbies: I mostly work (at Dutch Bros. Coffee) and hang out with my friends. Favorite Animal: Penguin. STO: Jackson Layton, age 17 Board Position: I am an advocacy chair, I reach out to local officials to emphasize the importance of theatre in our community and state Actor or Technician: Actor. Hobbies: Guitar, skateboarding and basketball. Favorite Animal: Goose. STO: Jennica Avila, age 17 Board Position: I am the historian, I take pictures during festival as well as editing the photos that the design team might use in their graphics. Actor or Technician: I am both, but spend more time as an actor. Hobbies: My hobbies include practicing cosmetic beauty, doing puzzles, and building miniatures. Favorite Animal: Llama! (the llama is the animal of Peru, and it just so happens that I am Peruvian... coincidence, I think not) STO: Karis Klammer, age 16 Board Position: I am the Secretary!. I keep attendance as well as take notes during meetings. I also keep our Google drive clean and organized! Actor or Technician: I’m an actor, but I always help build sets, make props, assemble costumes. Anything I can do that will help out the show! Hobbies: I really love singing, learning everything about music, and how to take care of my voice. I’ve recently started learning piano again. Favorite Animal: Ducks or toucans. STO: Lillian “Lily” Land, age 17 Board Position: I am one of the Leadership Academy Chairs. I work on everything that deals with leadership which includes, Leadership Days, Leadership Workshops at Festival, J-fest Leadership workshops, and Leadership Academy/Honor Troupes. Actor or Technician: I am a Technician. I specialize in stage management, but have also done lights, costumes, etc. Hobbies: Some of my hobbies include reading and crocheting. Favorite Animal: Cats. STO: Maleah Minyard, age 17 Board Position: Blog Editor, I check for spelling and grammatical errors on any writing that the STOs put out! Actor or Technician: Actor! Hobbies: I love to spend time with my family and friends. I also love trying new food, coloring, and crafting. Favorite Animal: Pit Bulls. STO: Marisa Berrones, age 16 Board Position: Technical Chair. My job is to make sure everything is working technically and to prepare technical aspects such as zoom backgrounds. Actor or Technician: Technician, I mostly do lights but I am also well versed in stage management. Hobbies: I read a lot and I love painting. Favorite Animal: Manatees or penguins. STO: Michael Hernandez, age 17 Board Position: Vlog Chair! I am in charge of recording and uploading videos to our different media outlets, such as our youtube channel. Actor or Technician: Actor. Hobbies: I am a captain in Speech and Debate and I also enjoy making a good quiche. Favorite Animal: Bats and Rabbits! STO: Olivia Snyder, age 17 Board Position: Social Media Chair. I help make graphics and edit graphics. I also help schedule when we’re posting the graphics. Actor or Technician: I am a technician who mostly stage manages, but I have also ran lights. Hobbies: I really love playing video games and embroidery. Favorite Animal: Cats. STO: Piper Daniell, age 16 Board Position: Co-Chair of Philanthropy. We help reach out to Texas Thespians across the state on how they can help others and give back to their community. Actor or Technician: Actress 110%! Hobbies: Reading, running, baking, and working with special Ed children. Favorite Animal: Baby elephants. STO: Talya Hammerman, age 17 Board Position: Advocacy Co-Chair, meaning I discover ways to advocate for theatre locally and state-wide, and then share that information with all of you! Actor or Technician: Both! I started as an actor, but junior year I took on some tech positions such as lights and publicity. Hobbies: I love to write poetry, paint, breakdance, play the ukulele, explore interior design and collect enamel pins. Favorite Animal: Cats. To future friendships, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Folarin Oyeleye, Foster High School, Troupe 7961; STO Maleah Minyard, John Horn High School, Troupe 6292
Ah summer, a wonderful chance to unplug and go out. Taking this to heart, your beloved STOs did just that! From the confined digital boxes of Zoom to finally meeting each other in person, we bonded with one another and tackled our projects for the upcoming year. So, grab a log to sit on as we regale the tales of the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch experience! Day 1: Huh, I Thought You Were Taller? Arriving at around 12:30, we all made our way to the conference room— the place where we did a majority of our work. Finally being together in one room almost felt surreal. After a bit of awkwardness, everyone’s preconceptions of each other slowly fell away, and we came to be quite merry. However, we soon entered work mode. Especially considering it was almost time to present our festival theme to the Texas Thespians’ Chapter Director, Amy Jordan. With the presentation over, we got a chance to head to our rooms and unpack. Soon after that, we were back in the conference room, eager to soak up our upcoming lesson in leadership. Having drilled a valuable lesson about the various types of leaders, Ms. Morgan motioned us towards our last activity for the day: a compass course. Once the sunset, we went into the woods using compasses to guide us from the first checkpoint to the campfire. Then once everyone arrived, we ate smores and headed back to our cabins for some shut-eye. Day 2: New Job, Who Dis? With the dawn of a new day upon us, we all got ready for the second day of camp. To kick things off, we had a few team-building exercises. Jumping into a circular padlock, giving a greedy gnome a diamond, and surviving in shark-infested waters. These trials, albeit very grand, were no match for our combined wit! It only took about...3 or more tries, but even in failure, we stood proud! With team-building complete, we went back to the conference room for our second lesson in leadership. After that, all the STOs got assigned their official jobs! As soon as we finished with those, we split up into our new groups. Each group was responsible for establishing their goals for the year and working on their respective assignments. This work format carried on into the night. Once the groups finished, they were allowed to turn in for the night. Day 3: A Lot Happened Time for day three! After breakfast, we began working on the presentation for our August 3rd and 7th leadership days. Stopping halfway for notes, we took some time to edit our work before continuing to present. As we finished presenting, Mr. Goodman (the State Festival Director) and Ms. Gette (the Junior Festival Director) came in to talk about what they needed for the festival and to add to the ideas we already had. The conversation was mainly around how to work the theme in various ways. But also lightly touched on keynote speakers and honor troupes. With the plans all laid out, our meeting came to an end. Soon we were busy getting ready to take pictures for the website (which you should check out in the STO Corner on the Texas Thespians’ website or our Instagram @texasthespians). Once we finished the professional pictures, we all got together to get some fun ones, just for keepsakes. Once we finished dinner, we went back to working on our projects and called it a day a bit earlier to allow time to finish recordings and pack up the conference room. Day 4: John Newcombe, I Bid Thee Farewell And finally, the dreaded, yet longed for, final day. We made our way to the conference room and immediately hit the ground running. We banged out the last few recordings and pictures needed before clearing out of the conference room to a smaller meeting area. As soon as we cleared the conference room, we went to clean out our rooms. As soon as we had all our items, we began to work one last time on our leadership presentation. Once we finished, everyone said their goodbyes and went home. Getting to spend time with one another in person was a truly wonderful experience. We worked hard, laughed harder, and deepened our bond with one another. Chilling by yourself can be fun, but if you can go out and be with people, make sure you seize that opportunity because we can’t be the only ones having fun. So go out and have fun knowing that you have a wonderful year of theatre planned out and waiting for you. Stay safe, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers |
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