The Munster High School theatre program is a buzzing with energy as both the High School and Middle School theatre programs prepare for their contest plays. The Munster theatre program competes annually at the Indiana Thespians Regional and State play competitions. During these competitions students are given 45 minutes to set, perform, and strike a piece of theatre before a panel of 3 judges. The first round tournament takes place at the Regional competition and the top 2 schools from each of Indiana’s 6 regions advance to the state conference championship in January.
Munster High School has distinguished itself from its Northwest Indiana neighbors by also competing with its Middle School troupe at the Junior Thespian Regional. The top 2 schools competing at the Junior Thespian Regional will earn the opportunity to compete against the 12 high school troupes that have advanced from the six high school regionals.
This year the theatre program will put forward two plays that highlight strong leading women. The High School is performing a play entitled Refugee Women. This play within a play details the story of several refugee women who at the suggestion of an aide worker put on a performance of The Trojan Women by Euripides. The parallels between the women of Troy and the women of the refugee camp only serves to heighten the catharsis of the audience. The Middle School is staging a production of I Never Saw Another Butterfly.
This drama focuses on the 15,000 children who went through the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust. Auditorium Director, Mr. Ray Palasz, has this to say regarding both productions, “Both of these shows provide an opportunity for students to tackle more challenging dramatic literature. In each case, cross-curricular conversations take place about how theatre helps to tell the stories of history.” Additionally, the students in Ms. Matanic’s technical theatre classes designed the sets, costuming, and dramaturgy for the shows.
The two shows will have public performances at the Munster Auditorium on November 1, 2, and 3 at 7pm each night. Tickets are $6 in advance at https://munaud.booktix.com, or $8 at the door.