Huntley High School’s Extracurricular Theatre Program is pleased to announce senior Zach Ulmer and junior Emma Swiersz have been selected to participate in the 2023 Illinois Theatre Association’s musical production of Shrek. Production week will take place in January 2023 during the annual Illinois High School Theatre Festival at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal.
Zach will be portraying the character of Mad Hatter and will serve as understudy for the character of Pinocchio, and Emma will participate on the technical crew for the performances.
Produced by the Illinois Theatre Association, the Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF) is the largest and oldest non-competitive high school theatre festival in the nation.
Each January, over 4,000 students, teachers, university representatives, exhibitors, and volunteers come together to take part in the three-day festival that includes workshops on topics ranging from acting, auditions and improvisation to stage management, costumes and special effects, as well as professional development opportunities for teachers and directors. Another highlight of the IHSTF includes college/university auditions for high school juniors and seniors. Students who plan to pursue theatre or musical theatre in college may audition/interview for theatrical programs in and around the state of Illinois.
Shrek will feature a select ensemble of 130 of the top high school student cast, crew, and musicians from throughout the state of Illinois.
Over a series of weekends during the first semester of the school year, cast, crew, and musicians will assist with construction of the set and take part in full cast rehearsals with final rehearsals occurring in the week leading up to the festival performances.
Congratulations to Zach Ulmer, Emma Swiersz, and the entire ensemble. Break a leg!
