Passion is something that drives everyone, from the youngest to the oldest of us, you could argue that passion is one of the most valuable qualities to have in life. We all have something we’re passionate about. When passion is put into practice, like at Missouri Thespian Conference, something really incredible happens.
On Thursday morning, Liberty Drama Club students took a trip to St. Louis Union Station Jan. 8-9 to spend three days at ThesCon, taking workshops for what many are truly passionate about: Theater. From working on tech crew, costumes, prop making, being a singer or dancer, to improvisation, students from high schools all around the state spend the conference honing their skills in the fine arts.
Liberty has a legacy at the Thespian conference. Last year, they performed their play “Trap” in front of hundreds of students and parents. They have won numerous awards, and reached new heights through this conference. Additionally, every day students got to see a “mainstage” performance at the Stifel Theater, the selections this year being Middletown, Little Women, and The Children’s Hour. Each show was presented to inspire and get the creative individuals in the audience thinking about why they do the arts. Each is an expression of passion for the arts.
“My favorite part of ThesCon was being with my friends, I loved hanging out with them, going on fun adventures and going to workshops with them,” Lydia Davis (11) said. “I learned how to loosen up, and have fun when trying new things in theater.”
Along with the incredible bonding and learning that happens, students also have the ability to have their skills assessed and rated throughout different events at ThesCon. While Liberty Drama was unable to participate in the annual Thespy’s events this year, they were still able to participate in Improv Intensive, an event that focuses on a group of actor’s improvisational skills. This year, Liberty Drama came home with a Superior rating on their performances from the five following Improv participants: Ashlan Brantley (12), Tyler Bugg (12), Ellie Force (11), Micki Morris (12), and Sebastian Tabers (12).
“My favorite thing about improv acting is the group effort it takes to make a story out of thin air, and how much fun it can be to perform that well,” Tabers said.
With the theatre program’s inherent togetherness, everyone is given the chance to share the spotlight.
