November 30th and December 1st, 2012 (at Saginaw Valley State University)
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Michigan's largest annual theatre event is the Michigan Thespian Festival. Festival is held for two days on the first weekend following the Thanksgiving weekend of each year. Over the course of the two days, students and teachers are able to see at least four shows, choose from 40-50 workshops in various areas of performance and technical theatre, compete in a variety of Individual Events, audition for scholarships from colleges & universities and visit information booths and theatrical vendors. At night students are able to mingle during social events such as dances and improvisation rooms. Overall, it is an extremely exciting weekend in which students from across the state can share together in their common love for the theatre arts. The festival also allows adults the chance to network with other theatre teachers, attend workshops of their own, obtain SB-CEU credit and gain valuable practical information on how to improve theatre at their own schools. |
Festival Highlights from 2011 include:
*Moving the Festival to SVSU
*Adding an all-state I.E. Showcase to our final night
*Having Susan Burk from The Matthew Sheppard Foundation guide a talkback following an emotionally intense performance of The Laramie Project
*Awarding Jon D'Ambrosio a Inspiration Prize for his amazing Filmmaking
*Awarding over $800,000 in scholarship offers to seniors
*A glow-in-the-dark dance, including clowns, photos booths and face painting