Warsaw Community High School Theatre took Shrek The Musical to one of the largest celebrations of educational theatre this summer, performing on the Mainstage at the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University.

 

The experience gave 41 Warsaw Theatre cast and crew members the opportunity to perform before audiences totaling thousands of theatre students and professionals from across the country. Among those in attendance were two special guests: Shrek The Musical creators Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire.

 

Following the performance, Tesori and Lindsay-Abaire greeted the Warsaw cast at the edge of the stage and congratulated the students on their work. The following morning, students attended a talkback with the creators, where they learned more about the process of bringing Shrek The Musical to life.

 

Getting the production to the Mainstage was a major undertaking. Warsaw Theatre transported two box trucks filled with hundreds of costume pieces, props and its larger-than-life set to Bloomington. The 41-member cast and crew arrived at IU Auditorium at 8:00 a.m. and spent the morning rebuilding the set, setting lights and preparing costumes, makeup and dressing rooms.

 

After a run-through with IU Auditorium’s professional stage crew and a microphone check, Warsaw Theatre presented performances at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Following the final performance, students and staff worked alongside the IU Auditorium crew to dismantle the production and reload the trucks, finishing around 12:30 a.m.

 

The day highlighted not only the talent on stage, but also the collaboration, technical skill and dedication required behind the scenes to bring a production of this scale to a new venue.

 

The Mainstage performance was an opportunity to represent Warsaw Community Schools and Warsaw Theatre on a national stage. It was an experience that students will carry with them for a lifetime.

 

Warsaw Theatre thanks the families, staff, community members and supporters who have invested in the program throughout the years and helped make opportunities like this possible.

 

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