Northwestern State University hosts the 2012 Louisiana Thespian Festival Jan. 27-28 in the A.A. Fredericks Center for Creative and Performing Arts. Approximately 600 junior high and high school students from throughout Louisiana will participate in worshops and performances and audition for college scholarships.

“This year’s festival is a collaboration of the student’s hard work and dedication to theatre,” said Louisiana Thespian Festival chair, Kerry A. Onxley. “The very best of theatre work is displayed at this festival.”

Northwestern Theatre and Dance faculty, staff and students will be involved in the festival, conducting workshops and auditions and overseeing logistics for the event.

“The Louisiana Thespian Festival attracts the best theatre students in the state and we are glad they chose to have the event at Northwestern State,” said Scott Burrell, coordinator of Theatre and Dance at Northwestern State. “We know a number of these students from past festivals. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our program.”

During the weekend theatre celebration, students participate in workshops on acting, Shakespeare, improvisations, voice, musical theatre, dance, stage combat, makeup, costuming, lighting and more. The festival concludes with performances of some of the best acts presented during the weekend.

The festival is presented by the Louisiana Thespians Society, a component of the international Educational Theatre Associational (EdTA). The Louisiana Thespian Society exists as a non-profit theatre service organization for junior high and high school theatre programs. Membership includes junior and high school students, theatre teachers and art advocates.