Fundraiser to help students perform at state festival
WOODSTOCK – An original two-act play written by Woodstock North High School students has been selected to be performed at the annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival in January.
A special holiday concert will be held at the school to raise funds for the students to attend the three-day Festival.
A special performance of “A White Christmas,” presented by professionals from DeVar Creative, Inc., will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 in the auditorium of Woodstock North High School.
The festival takes place every year in early January and is attended by more than 4,000 students, teachers, and university representatives, the district said in a news release. The event features more than 25 different high school productions, 150 workshops, and the All-State Production featuring student cast and crew members from across the state.
Woodstock North’s production, “In and Out of the Garbage Pail” is one of only 11 full-scale productions selected to be performed from hundreds that were submitted. It was written entirely by Woodstock North students and is the school’s first entry into the contest.
The play is about teenage dysfunctionality and depicts teenagers as clowns who live under Wacker Drive.
The entire 26-member Thespian troupe will make the trip to Illinois State University including 15 actors and four crew members who are involved in the performance. The estimated cost for one student to attend the Theatre Fest is $200.
Tickets to “A White Christmas” are $20 per adult, $15 for senior citizens and groups of 10 or more, and $10 for students college-age and younger. They may be bought at the door or in advance by calling 815-334-2127 or visiting www.seatyourself.biz/woodstocknorth. Checks should be made out to WNHS Thespian Troupe 7470. Donations also may be mailed to Woodstock North High School, 3000 N. Raffel Road, Woodstock, IL 60098.
The Thespians will also give a send off performance of “In and Out of the Garbage Pail” at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 at Woodstock North. Tickets to that performance are $5 each. Their performance at the Theatre Fest will be at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7 in Orchestra Hall at the Center for Performing Arts on the campus of ISU.
For more information about the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, visit www.illinoistheatrefest.org.
The members of Woodstock North’s Thespian Troupe 7470 are:
Cameron Baker, Elli Baker, Ashley Bartlett, Carlee Belt, Astoncia Bhagat, Mason Bhagat, Christina Frasik, Korinne Griffith, Ranae Haskins, Trevor Helland, Troy Helland, Abigayle Huntley, Spencer Jones, Josiah Killam, Kathleen Knox, Riley Kohler, Abigail Kreznor, Collin Morris, Paige Norris, Viktoria Pokomandy, Aaron Sanchez, Callista Schulenburg, Rachel Simandl, Jack Versten, Anne Vogrinc and Katie Wright.
