Fourteen students from Palo Alto High School’s Thespian Troupe No. 909 will attend the Northern California Thespian Leadership and Tech Conference, Saturday, Sept. 24, at Santa Clara University, according to theater teacher Kathleen Woods. 

There will be leadership and advanced leadership training sessions and five different workshops for stage tech: mask making, scenic painting, lighting design, makeup and house management, according to the registration form for the event. 

Senior Justin Krasen-Karpen, Paly’s Thespian Society treasurer who attended the conference last year, noted that Paly students attend the conference every year.

“We require students on the school’s Thespian Board to have taken the leadership track of workshops,” Krasen-Karpen said. “In addition, to be eligible to run for the State Thespian Board, a student must have taken the leadership track.” 

Besides the workshops, there will also be a showcase open to all the thespians troupes. Each troupe can perform a two-minute “scene or monologue” for which there are three prizes, according to senior Grace Barry, president of the Thespian Board. 

Barry added that last year, Paly took home “most entertaining,” one of the three awards given to the showcases. 

However, Krasner-Karpen said that the leadership conference was not about competing but about learning and participating in the conference itself. 

“Rather [than competition], the day is geared towards learning about leadership and stage tech,” Krasner-Karpen said. 

Woods believes that students will gain a many skills by attending the leadership conference. 

“Students benefit from the instruction in the workshops as well as the opportunity to interact and network with other Northern California thespians,” Woods said. “Students who attend bring their learning back to the troupe and it enhances many aspects of Thespian Club throughout the year.” 

In addition to the showcase and workshops, Kit Wilder, Santa Clara University alumnus and Artistic Director of San Jose City Lights Theatre Company, will speak at the leadership conference. 

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