Lake Forest thespians perform at state theater festival

Lake Forest Academy has announced that students at the school were invited to perform at the 45th Annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival Jan. 9-11 in Bloomington.

The festival is hosted by the Illinois Theatre Association and consists of workshops, lectures and presentations. LFA students performed William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" Friday, Jan. 10, in the Centennial East - Westhoff building at Illinois State University.

LFA's modern version of "Macbeth" premiered on the Academy's campus Oct. 17 and 18, 2019, during Parents Weekend in The Cressey Center for the Arts.

The play features 17 actors and actresses, four assistant directors and 15 tech crew members who are coached by Director Matt Boresi and Production Manager Jason Koenig.

Based on the original play, LFA's "Macbeth" is set in the ruins of a war-torn land where soldiers in a private military force engage in a harrowing tale of betrayal and murder. Students spent months practicing the poetry of the text and building up their acting skills to portray physical and emotional scenes.

Thirty LFA students attended the festival, which takes place every year in early January. It is the largest and oldest noncompetitive high school theater festival in the United States. More than 4,000 students, teachers, university representatives and exhibitors present high school productions and workshops.

University auditions for high school students and professional development sessions for teachers are also offered.

Lake Forest Academy is an independent, coed, boarding and day school for ninth- to 12th-graders in Lake Forest. The school enrolls 434 students from 35 countries and 13 states. The school is committed to a mission of citizenship, scholarship, character and responsibility.