BWW Blog: Lauren Ward - Thespian Conference: Theatre in the Big Picture

Last weekend, during a slight break from preparations for Oliver!, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Georgia Thespian Conference (affectionately referred to as Thescon, or THESCAAAHHHN by my friends in troupe 5362). I can genuinely say it was one of the most fun times I've had to date. Kindred theatre-loving spirits from far and wide (AKA, the state of Georgia) came together to do workshops, to sign up for college auditions, compete in individual events, and to watch shows put on by their peers. It was incredible to me that even though most of us had never seen each other before, everyone was treated like a friend to everyone else; I found myself having a five minute conversation with a complete stranger about a common show we had done and (coincidentally) both worn t-shirts for. Attending this convention was not only an extremely educational experience, but also rather humbling, and it was quite special to be able to get a larger-scale representation of what the art form is all about.

Throughout the weekend, students had the opportunity to engage in different workshops. Some that I attended were Auditioning for Film/Television, Swing Dancing, Special Effects Makeup, and even Cirque, which centered on circus-type skills. I loved getting to improve myself as a performer while having fun with my friends. There wasn't any pressure to be the best, no sense of competition (outside of the actual competitions), it was simply a time to let loose and having fun doing what we all love. I came out of it with a better idea of what it actually means to be in theatre, the sheer amount of dedication involved in having fun.

In addition to participating in workshops, throughout the weekend, we had the opportunity to watch one-act versions of shows put on by high school troupes from all over the state. Although my school wasn't selected to perform, we certainly got to see our share of incredible shows. We don't often get to see shows outside of our county, and it was quite humbling to see so much talent from all over Georgia, all doing what they love, just like me. You could tell the actors on stage were having just as much fun performing as the audience was watching them. Some groups ended up putting on shows in front of many hundreds of people, and it was hard to imagine myself in front of such a crowd, which brought even more appreciation for my fellow theatre kids. I think, often, we get all wrapped up in developing our own shows at our respective schools, rarely getting the chance to sit down and watch the finished products. This weekend I gained some perspective into how WORTH IT all of that work and stress is.

There were about 4,000 high school thespians at this year's Thespian Conference. Saying that number aloud seems so surreal. Four thousand of the most genuine, passionate people I've ever seen coming together in the same place, at the same time to support each other in the arts we all enjoy. Whether it was singing, acting, tech, or dancing, everyone found something over which to bond with other people their age, an experience that can be quite rare among some student populations. I've always known how important theatre is to me, but I don't think I ever realized how big it is, if that makes any sense. Last weekend was like seeing a bunch of individual pieces fitting together into one gigantic picture, like a jigsaw puzzle. The one difference between the puzzle comparison and actuality is that, unlike the puzzle piece, each individual person and troupe works beautifully and can function on its own, but putting them all together still manages to make them that much better.

To sum up, I really did have the time of my life at Thescon. I got the privilege to engage in fun workshops and seminars, see amazing shows, and come together with 4,000 of my kindred spirits to have fun at the most theatre-packed event that I've ever had the pleasure to experience. Thank you, Thescon, and thank you to all the people who made it happen.