Starting Friday, downtown Owensboro will be the backdrop for the Kentucky Thespian Festival. Each year, schools from around the Commonwealth come together to celebrate middle and high school theatre. Over 300 Kentucky students and educators representing 19 different schools and over 100 workshop experts and college representatives will gather at the RiverPark Center.
“KTF allows students to come and be with people who are interested in the same things they are,” said board member Brie Greer. “Theater has a place for everyone.”
Greer, an alumnus of the festival, contributes now as the state student officer liaison, in this role she works with high school students from across Kentucky to help plan the festival.
“I loved KTF the many years I attended,” she said. “I love being able to create the same kinds of experiences that I had.”
Working closely with Geer is Owensboro High School student Avery Elliott who is a state thespian officer for the second year. Elliott along with six other state thespian officers selected “Our Old Kentucky Home” as the theme for the 2019 festival.
“We picked the theme because we are celebrating the 20th anniversary, our festival has grown tremendously and the theme honors how far we’ve come,” Elliott said.
Elliott and 21 other students from across Kentucky will also participate in the first ever Kentucky All State Show, “Among Friends and Clutter.”
“Performing with other actors from all over Kentucky and becoming friends with them has been so amazing,” Elliott said about being cast in the production.
“Among Friends and Clutter” is written by Lindsay Price, a playwright for Theatrefolk Ltd and the co-creator of the Drama Teacher Academy. Price, who is Canadian, is no stranger to Owensboro. In recent years, Owensboro High School drama teacher and State Thespian Festival Director Carolyn Greer has debuted two of Price’s other works.
“It’s an honor to have ‘Among Friends and Clutter’ as KTF’s first all state show,” Price said. “There’s no other place I’d want for my first All State Show than at KTF.”
The playwright will also offer a keynote address to all attending the festival focusing on the unique opportunities created at a thespian festival.
“I love thespian festivals! What a great opportunity for students to come together from all over the state,” Price said. “Students get to see each other perform, have an insane amount of fun and most importantly, learn the value of finding your community.”
The all state show will be directed by Bluegrass Children’s Theatre Executive Director and Kentucky Thespian Festival board member, Grae Greer. The cast is made up of students from across the Commonwealth.
A public performance of “Among Friends and Clutter” will be held at Owensboro High School on Thursday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 and those wishing to attend should enter through the fine arts wing.
