The Rock Island High School Drama Department kicked off the 2026 year by attending the Illinois Annual Theater Festival. The festival was held at Illinois State University, where theater students from around the state were able to attend. This year, Rocky had the privilege to be able to take 17 students to the festival. For most of these students, it was their first time ever attending.
One aspect of attending the festival is students are able to attend various theater oriented classes run by different theater teachers and instructors from across the country. Some classes are various acting classes, whether they be students learning how to submit their very first audition tape, to perfecting a dialect, to playing different styles of characters, to dancing the choreo seen on Broadway. Other classes were for those who were interested in the tech aspects of Theater (behind the scenes), from running stoplights, to being able to stage manage a show, to painting and designing costume pieces or a set, to running a sound board. All these classes were run to interest the many varying types of theater students.
Another event being run throughout the Festival weekend were the plays and musicals, all being performed by high schools throughout the state. Merrell Mars, a senior in his second year of being in Drama Club, was able to see the play, Peter and the Starcatcher, the origin story of how Peter Pan came to be. He stated, “The show was amazing, from its set, to the actors, to the different lighting elements.” Another student, Easter Naing, a senior and Drama Club Board member, was able to see the musical, Next to Normal, which is about a suburban family coping with their mother’s bipolar disorder and loss of a son. Easter stated, “The actors, music, show, etc, were perfect. It also made me tear up.” Merrell and Easter were lucky enough just to catch two of the amazing shows being performed at the festival.
However, the one musical that was in every theater student’s mind was, the Theater Fest All-State show, Newies. Every theater student was able to attend and watch this breathtaking masterpiece. But how this amazing production came to be was back in July of 2025. Students from around Illinois were able to audition, from actors and dancers, who would be seen on the stage, to the technicians and builders, who ran the plans from behind the scenes, to the musicians who played the music, each person casted play a crucial role in this one production. Every weekend, students would travel to various high schools to meet up to get this show prepped and ready to take on the festival. Merrell was able to attend opening night of the production, he said, “This, BY FAR, was one of my favorite shows I was able to see.”
As this Theater Festival season comes to a close, we must not forget the real purpose of theater. Theater may seem like it is playing random characters and having fun, but there is so much more to it. To the young theater student, theater provides a space to encourage growth, creativity, and gain experiences. Merrell says, “I like Theater because it feels like a break outside of school.” While for Easter, “Theater has let me meet new people, and they’re the biggest reason why I wanted to be in it.” Theater is a place many students hold close to their hearts, because it is an escape from their reality, and lets them be someone they never thought they could.
Furthermore, it is important to care about these big annual Theater Festivals. “I wish I wasn’t a senior, so I could attend at least one more time,” Easter and Merrell said. Planning these festivals and bringing in experienced theater directors, and participating in these productions allows the young theater student to step onto the stage and be themselves. Whether that be through their guitar in the pit, or singing Santa Fe from Newies, or building a wicked set piece, all these students turned to Theater to be a part of something where their voice can be heard.
Continuing the Theater Fest is very crucial. “It allows students who are new or well-versed in the Theater area to see other people in their grade either participating in shows, workshops, or just seeing how many people enjoy Theater. But it also allows us to connect with each other and have all voices heard,” Merrell states. Provide theater to these students so they can be who they are truly meant to be.
