High school students can get full theater experience in 24 hours at workshop

MANSFIELD - High school students who are interested in theater are in luck.

The deadline to register for Page to Stage: The 24-hour Theater Experience has been extended. Students now have until Feb. 2 to sign up; the previous deadline was Jan. 17.

"That'll still leave us time to get T-shirts ordered," said Jenny Pennell, gifted program coordinator at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center. 

This is the second year for the event, which takes place Feb. 18 and 19 — President's Day Weekend — at MOESC.

From play writing, acting and directing to set design, technical crew and videography, students will learn all about theater in just 24 hours.

The students will develop, direct and act in their own productions and participate in workshops in several educational components of theater.

"We want them to gain some practical experience," Pennell said. "Having a time constraint and being able to work with peers to accomplish goals in that time constraint ... these are 21st century skills."

Last year was the first year for the workshop, which attracted 31 high school students.

"It was very intensive, having that time constraint, especially for the writers," Pennell said. "I think they were rather exhausted. They could go home and go to sleep."

Pennell, who calls the workshop an extension of a school day, said organizers have tweaked the format to give students a better experience.

"We've added a videography component," she said. "We've added some workshops, especially in the area of tech."

Last year, Pennell said students were competing for practice time. This year, a stage manager has been added to facilitate such matters.

"We also have some high-caliber local theater people to help us out," Pennell said.

Those include Mark Jordan, artistic director at the Mansfield Playhouse; Jim Cox, theater and performing arts director at St. Peter's School; Joe Fahey, associate professor of the theater department at the Ohio State University-Mansfield; and Luke Beekman, director of Mansfield Murals.

Pennell described the workshop as Cox's brainchild.

"While participating students choose their interest area, they continually interact and exchange creative and interpretive ideas throughout the process," Cox said. "I am amazed at the depth of the topics chosen by the students for the stage in such a short time. They clearly have important and insightful concepts, experiences and positions to share. They are honest in a way that leads to understanding ... building up rather than tearing apart. Really, in my mind, the only difference between these students and 'adults' is the extent of experiences of life. These students are sharp and very worth listening to."

Pennell hopes the 24-hour theater experience will attract 30 to 50 students.

There is a $40 fee, and MOESC asks for a parent or teacher nomination. Visit moesc.net to register, or contact Lindsay Lantz at lantz.lindsay@moesc.net for more information.

mcaudill@gannett.com

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Twitter: @MNJCaudill