Student Theater Festival Gains New Life

When financial problems caused Bucks County Playhouse to close its doors this past December, the Bucks County Theater Festival went with it. For 43 years, the annual student competition drew hundreds of young thespians eager for their opportunity to shine in the spotlight.  The young actors, directors, playwrights and technicians were left in the dark.

Newtown Arts Company board member Kristin Kauffman wasn’t going to let that happen. The actress/director participated in the festival when she was a Pennsbury High School student. She suggested Newtown Arts Company and its partner, Newtown Theatre, take on the festival.

From that initiative, the first annual Newtown Student Theatre Festival emerged. The competition runs Tuesday, May 31 through Friday, June 3 at the theater at 120 North State Street.  

Following each day’s competition, the students will be treated to a performance of Harvey, the Mary Chase classic that will be presented by Newtown Arts Company at the Newtown Theatre June 23 through 29.

Some 400 middle- and high-school students from 17 schools have entered. Each school will perform up to two 30-minute plays or musicals for adjudication.  Each day of the competition judges will award various honors, such as best ensemble, best individual performance, best student-written play, etc.

“We’re also giving students more technical opportunities,” Kauffman said. They’re offering lighting options the original festival didn’t have. “We’ll have a technical plot worked out.”

Festival participant Hannah Frank, a Pennsbury High School student who plans to study creative writing and secondary education at Bryn Mawr College in the fall, is grateful for the opportunity.  

“I always knew I wanted to direct a drama fest play,” said Frank. “I’ve been waiting since I was a freshman.”

She’ll direct fellow students in a Hamlet-esque farce titled The Omelet Murder Case.

Such opportunity is what the festival is all about. It is especially important considering how budget cuts have affected arts education, said Kauffman.

Jamie Bradley, a drama advisor at Penn Ridge High School in Perkasie, agreed.

“There are many [college] degrees in theater arts,” Bradley said. “People make a living doing this stuff. These are jobs that students don’t know are there unless they are introduced in high school.

“Not everybody can be a quarterback,” he added.

“Not everybody can be an actor,” Kauffman said.

“Not everybody can build a set,” added Frank.

They are in agreement that the continuation of the festival tradition is a good thing. Although Kauffman said they will consider scheduling it a bit earlier in the spring next year so as to not conflict with end-of-the-school-year activities.

Frank said she looks forward to bringing her work before the judges and Bradley will have 40 students participate this year. One of the works Bradley’s group will present is student-written and both are student-directed.

“I love to see the kids when they get on stage for the first time and see they can affect an audience,” said Bradley. “Their eyes just … "

Frank finishes this thought with a knowing nod of her head and a smile.

Visit www.newtownartscompany.com or call 215-860-7058.