The Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF) takes place once a year during the month of January. It is a statewide event for high school students interested in performing and anything to do with theater. This year it celebrated its 50th anniversary and offered a variety of workshops and performances. It was the first year attending IHSTF for both of us and we got to see a variety of shows ranging from comedic improvisation to the All-State performance of “Newsies.” The festival took place at Illinois State University and was filled with such a welcoming community of high school kids from all around the state. Since this was our first experience at IHSTF, we wanted to do a quick review on the amazing shows that we got to go to.
The first show we saw at the festival was a performance from Comedy Dance Chicago. This group creates sketch comedy pieces in dance form, bringing a unique and hilarious performance that definitely entertained us. The show we watched consisted of a six-person ensemble with different short skits throughout. We watched this performance in the morning, and it was a great start to our day. This act is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and the routines made everyone in the audience laugh and cheer. With a mix of audience participation and innovative ideas, this troupe brightened everyone’s spirits. Not only were the performers comical, but they were also very talented dancers. One woman stuck out especially: Emily Moon’s remarkable tricks and lifts were a highlight of the act. However, it is incredibly difficult to pick just one performer who amazed us because they were all equally charming, contributing their own individual talents to the show. You could easily tell that this group consisted of close friends who are passionate about what they do. After the performance, they held a workshop for the students that, unfortunately, we were unable to attend. Regardless, we definitely recommend this show to anyone looking for a good laugh and an uplifting atmosphere.
The next show we got to attend was definitely not as comical or really comical at all… “Next to Normal,” which was performed by the University High School, is a musical neither of us had ever seen before. We went into it knowing little to nothing about the story, and boy oh boy were we clueless to what was in store for us. The musical is about a family of three coping with the mother’s bipolar disorder. It heavily focuses on mental illness, grief, and substance abuse but is mixed with a peppy and pretty upbeat soundtrack. The high school actors did an incredible job taking on these complex characters and definitely pulled on the audience’s heart strings. By the end of the show, you could hear sniffles coming from all sides of the theater, and everyone rose to their feet when the actors came out to bow. It was such a great performance of the musical that brought focus to deep topics that are not talked about a lot, and we’re so happy we got to be in the audience to see it.
Extra! Extra! Today’s headline is the phenomenal All-State production of “Newsies.” This was the last show we watched at IHSTF, performed by the most talented high school students in Illinois. Their rigorous rehearsal schedule and intense dedication to the show definitely paid off because it was incredible. To begin, the cast blew us away. All of the actors were truly amazing, and it made perfect sense why they were casted in this selective production. Every aspect of the show was amazing: the lighting, sound, costumes, choreography, and the performers were all outstanding. The story of “Newsies” is inspired by the 1899 New York City newsboys strike. It follows a group of poor boys living on the streets of New York City selling newspapers, and when the prices of the papers increase, they fight back and issue a strike. This moving story includes catchy songs, amazing dance numbers, a bit of romance, and many charismatic characters. All of the actors did a wonderful job, and the dancers were also insanely talented. We are so glad we got to see this performance because it showcased some incredible kids and reminded us why we love live theatre so much. Congratulations to the performers of the All-State production of “Newsies,” it was definitely a newsworthy event.
Our first IHSTF experience left us with no complaints. Being able to see multiple shows, mostly performed by kids our age, was absolutely incredible. The entire experience was truly unforgettable. We went into it with no clue what to expect, and from the moment we got there, the energy was embracing and exciting. If you are interested in theatre and ever get the chance to go to a future IHSTF, we would highly recommend you take it. It was such an awesome experience that brought together so many different kids and united them with their love of the performing arts. Overall, we would rate our experience a 10/10 and wouldn’t hesitate to go back and do it again.
