Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine December 2016

North Carolina Theatre Conference Congratulations are due to two high school Theater Departments within IredellStatesville Schools. North Iredell High School Theater Department, under the direction of Amos McCandless received an award at the North Carolina Theater Conference in October for Eurydice, with a Rating: of Superior. Acting student, Ryan Cantara received an Excellence in Acting Award for this production. The Theatre Department at West Iredell High School brought home honors from the 2016 NCTC High School Play Festival as well. The theatre program, led by Ella Moore, made the school and community proud with their presentation of Dancing with Strangers at the Festival. West High was awarded the rating of Excellent for their production and Excellence in Sound Design. For over 30 years, the NCTC High School Play Festival has strengthened arts education in schools by bringing curriculum to life, challenging students to do their very best work, and contributing to the development of future audiences for live performing arts. The program was named one of the “Top High School Theatre Festivals” by Stage Directions Magazine, is the largest high school theatre event in the Southeast, and has been replicated in 9 other states. This year, 3,000 students from 90 schools performed 126 plays! The Festival platform is unique, and allows teachers to fulfill the NC Essential Standards for Theatre Arts, through an exciting, hands-on learning experience. Students study and analyze literary texts as they select their Play Festival piece. During the rehearsal process, young artists analyze theatre in terms of the social, historical, and cultural contexts in which it was created. The NCTC Festival, students use performance to communicate ideas and feelings. By watching performances from other schools, students develop critical thinking skills and learn to understand the traditions, roles, and conventions of theatre as an art form . Iredell-Statesville School & Family 11

Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine December 2016 | Page 13