On January 13, Middle School Performing Arts teacher Kelly Wadlegger took Ka Makani Students Lillian M. ’25, Lilly H. ’25, and Liana D. ’28 to the annual Hawai’i Thespian Festival at Palikū Theatre at Windward Community College on O‘ahu. The HPA thespians all got a chance to meet and mingle with other students in acting programs from all over Hawaiʻi.
The students took part in three different workshops and there was a wide variety to choose from. Master teachers conducted high-level classes such as Unarmed Stage Combat, Auditioning Success, Voice for Musical Theatre, ComedySportz, Physical Theatre Techniques, Playing Shakespeare, Voice for Acting, Improv Theatre, and much more.
The students were mixed up with grade 6-12 students from other schools such as Hongwanji Mission School, Punahou, Mid-Pacific Institute, Mililani, Nanakuli, Parker, and Iolani.
The HPA actresses had a great time getting to know other theatre students like themselves who are dedicated and passionate about performing arts. Senior students who were in attendance could also audition for several scholarships being offered from the Hawai’i Conservatory of the Performing Arts at Windward Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance (from which Ms. Wadlegger is an MFA graduate).
The end of the festival culminated in a fantastic performance presentation by students from different schools presenting songs, dances, and scenes from plays. Punahou seniors impressed everyone with a passionate song from the musical “Tick Tick Boom.” The HPA girls received great applause and laughs for encore performances from their recent shows presented at GPAC. Lilly, who played Elle, and Lillian, who played Paulette, performed their hilarious hair salon scene from “Legally Blonde.” Liana did a short monologue from her lead role as Megan in the play “The Struggles.”
The festival, open to all Hawaiian schools with drama programs, offers a valuable experience for students in grades 6-12. It provides an opportunity for them to learn from professionals and educators throughout Hawaii, as well as to interact with fellow student actors. Additionally, it serves as an excellent professional development platform for teachers, allowing them to exchange best practices and gather new ideas in theatre education.