Nearly three dozen students and chaperones representing the theater department at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale start their journey to Scotland today to participate in the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, one of the world’s largest arts festivals.
The American High School Theatre Festival chose 45 schools in the United States and Canada to participate in this year’s festival. Chaparral High School will be performing a new play by alumnus Danny Merritt titled “Riding with Night.”
The play explores themes of immigration and mine safety while following the experiences of an American student studying art in Paris who learns of ancient catacombs under the city. Portions of the dialogue are delivered in French.
New plays have workshop performances before official premieres. The final workshop performance of “Riding with Night” took place last week on the school’s black box stage.
Most of the audience members were parents who stayed after the performance for final pre-trip instructions from Ed Como, head of the school’s theater department; then everyone headed to a nearby pizza joint for a trip fundraising event.
Donations are still welcome to help cover the cost of the trip, says Como. Supporters can send donations to Chaparral Theater Company (the parent booster group for the theater department) at Chaparral High School, 6935 E. Gold Dust Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85253.
More youth theater news
Members of the Arizona theater community gathered at Phoenix Theatre last night for the reading of nominations for this year’s AriZoni Awards, a local take on the annual Tony Awards presented for outstanding achievements on Broadway.
Plenty of youth involved with participating theaters were on hand to learn who had been nominated for directing, acting, design, overall production and other awards.
Overall production nominations in the youth plays category went to Actor’s Youth Theatre, Desert Foothills Theater, East Valley Children’s Theatre, Fountain Hills Youth Theater, Greasepaint Youtheatre, Musical Theatre of Anthem, Spotlight Youth Theatre and Theater Works.
Overall production nominations for youth musicals went to Actor’s Youth Theatre, East Valley Children’s Theatre, Fountain Hills Theater, Greasepaint Youtheatre, Musical Theatre of Anthem, Spotlight Youth Theatre and Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy.
The 2014 AriZoni Awards ceremonies (one for youth, another for adults) take place Monday, Sept. 15 at Tempe Center for the Arts. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Applications for AriZoni Awards scholarships and community awards are being accepted through Friday, Aug. 15.
Several Valley theaters and school theater departments participate in the National Youth Arts program, which recognizes outstanding theater achievement during regional ceremonies.
The Arizona West Valley ceremony took place Sunday, June 20 at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts. The East Valley ceremony takes place Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Mesa High School, and the Western Regional-Phoenix ceremony takes place Sunday, Sept. 7 at Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix.
The names of winners have already been announced. Overall production honors went to Actor’s Youth Theatre, Greasepaint Youtheatre, Xavier/Brophy Theatre, Arizona School for the Arts, Valley Youth Theatre, Spotlight Youth Theatre, Musical Theatre of Anthem and Theater Works.
