On Friday, Jan. 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium, the thespians performed for their friends and family members, giving them a preview as to what they will be performing for State.

“I think the performance went really well. [The performers] are probably the strongest students that I have taken to State out of my nine years,” Mr. Ray Palasz, English, said.

The thespians also tried something new this year by putting poetry in a scripted format. Their State competition piece this year is a Reader’s Theater-style play composed of Walt Whitman’s poetry.

“Walt Whitman’s war poetry is set in a script format. He was one of the most famous American war poets and had very strong views about war,” Mr. Palasz said.

Although many thespians were nervous, this was Craig Bronson’s (10) first time acting other than the freshman plays.

“I was a bit nervous, but I knew that I practiced enough to know that no matter what happened I would still

have fun being on the stage for the last time,” Craig Bronson (10) said.

Not many know that competitions also happen for the people that work behind the scenes, which include challenges like knot tying, cable coiling, and having to set up a light.

“It’s really nerve-racking because I’ve never done it before, and most of the people are very experienced. The one that I’m best at is prop setting,” Elise Bereolos (10) said.

State will be held this weekend on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Indianapolis University. The thespians will be leaving Friday morning and arriving home on Sunday.