The Theatre Department at Forest Hills High is celebrating after being honored at the 2019 NCTC High School Play Festival, held at Spirit Square on Nov. 8 and 9. The theatre program, led by Mrs. Shelby Pressley, presented War at Home at the Festival, and brought home the award for sets and props.
This year, 3,000 students from 87 schools are performing 121 plays at 8 regional sites. The top 16 productions are invited to perform at the NCTC State High School Play Festival, November 21-22 at Greensboro College.
Participating schools travel to their regional festival sites with theatrical sets, costumes, and props. Each show loads in to a 10’x10’ backstage area. When their time comes, each school group has 45 minutes to set up, perform the play, and clear the stage. Following their performance, students receive feedback from professional actors and directors with Broadway and Hollywood credits.
Awards are given for acting, design, technical craft, ensemble work, and festival spirit.
“The atmosphere at the Play Festival is positive and exciting, and students are filled with energy as they watch shows, learn from their peers and make new theatre friends,” said NCTC Executive Director Angie Hays.
For over 30 years, the NCTC High School Play Festival has strengthened arts education in schools by bringing curriculum to life, challenging students to do their very best work, and contributing to the development of future audiences for live performing arts. The program was named one of the “Top High School Theatre Festivals” by Stage Directions Magazine. It is the largest high school theatre event in the Southeast, and has been replicated in 9 other states.
The NCTC High School Play Festival is made possible with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Ecolab; Lincoln Financial Group; The Beattie Foundation; the Moore County Unrestricted Endowment Fund; Barbizon Lighting Company; and Charlotte Center City.
About the North Carolina Theatre Conference
The mission of NCTC is to strengthen North Carolina’s vibrant theatre industry, and engage tomorrow’s artists, audiences and advocates. NCTC has served as the leader of the statewide theatre industry since 1970, and produces several events throughout the year, including the NCTC Producing Gathering, NCTC College Discovery Day, the NCTC Theatre Admin Intensive, the NCTC Awards and statewide NCTC Middle School and High School Play Festivals.
For more information on NCTC, please contact Executive Director Angie Hays at 336-369-1984 or visit www.nctc.org.
For more information on the Forest Hills High School Theatre Dept., please contact Shelby Pressley at (704) 296-3025.
