Glenbard students take part in state theater festival

Seven Glenbard District 87 students are part of the All-State Company for the 2020 Illinois High School Theatre Festival, which will feature "Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida" as its 2020 All-State production.

"Aida" features a select ensemble of the top high school actors, technicians and musicians from throughout Illinois. Glenbard North High School faculty and staff also are part of the All-State Company, and Glenbard North Theatre was selected to host the All State rehearsals for the January 2020 Theatre Fest performance.

Winner of four Tony Awards, "Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida" is an epic tale of love, loyalty and betrayal, chronicling the love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love.

The All-State cast, crew and pit orchestra are comprised of top student performers, musicians and technicians from across Illinois. Almost 180 students auditioned for "Aida" and 98 were selected for the final production company.

Glenbard members of the 2020 All-State Company include:

Crew: Glenbard North students William Breslauer and Akshar Patel; Glenbard East students Abeline Glenzinski and Anthony Maggio; and Glenbard West student Erik Murillo.

Orchestra: Glenbard North student Alyssa Cordero and Glenbard East student Lizzy Mazzolini.

Production staff: producer Nathan King, Glenbard North fine arts department chair; orchestra director Lauren Whisnant, Glenbard North band director; and administrative assistant Ricky Lopez, administrative assistant to fine arts at Glenbard North.

The Illinois High School Theatre Festival is the largest and oldest noncompetitive high school theater festival in the nation and is produced by the Illinois Theatre Association. More than 4,500 students, teachers, university representatives, exhibitors and volunteers come together to put on theatrical workshops and various high school productions.

The festival organizes more than 150 workshops, whose topics include acting, musical theater, auditions, improvisation, technical theater, directing, stage management, makeup and costumes, lighting and special effects, to name a few.

In addition, more than 25 high school productions from around the state are selected to perform at the festival each year.

The IHSTF 2020 Festival is supported, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, and corporate donations or in-kind services.