Well, they’ve done it again. Through the leadership of their determined and talented director Kimberly Fielder-Jones, North Moore High School’s theater is once again heading to the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana. The International Thespian Festival is a top-level event with workshops, Broadway performances, and heavy competition.
Last year, the North Moore thespians performed the one-act play, Booby Trap, which was rated superior, as well as an acting duet from A Few Good Men, performed by Elijah Brown and Alexander Simpson, who received a top award from the competition called a “Thespy.” This year the actors are moving on to the international level competition with several different events, even more than the previous year.
This year, they are competing with another one-act play, PolkaDots, starring Mars Jones, Jalen Troublefield, Yahir Betancourt, Zoie Jones, Troy Pool, and Summer Brady, with technical assistance from Alexander Simpson, Kelsi Sanchez, Jace Brown, and Sydney Dunaway.
Their performance was rated superior at state-level competition. Additionally, several individual acts are moving on, including Lydia Nelson, rated superior for playwriting; Jada Mason, rated superior in solo dance and returning for their second time; and Alexander Simpson and Jalen Troublefield competing with superior ratings in both duet acting and duet singing.
Lydia Nelson, North Moore junior, competing with her play, We Hide in the Shadows, features a student’s struggle with depression characterized by a shadow following and torturing the lead character to no end.
In an interview with Lydia, she says, “I have dealt with depression since a young age and wanted to bring awareness to it and show people who struggle how to get help.”
This show beautifully portrays how through the help of a friend, a person’s struggle with depression can end. This is not Lydia’s first experience as a playwright. She has been writing stories since she was young and wants to continue exploring the craft, moving into her collegiate career.
Jada Mason, also a junior at North Moore, is performing a self-choreographed dance entitled “Breathe” from the Broadway musical In the Heights.
Jada choreographed the Dance with Latin-influenced dance moves with the help of her Spanish-speaking friends. Her dance is dedicated to and inspired by her beloved father.
When asked what music means to her, Jada says, “Dance is my life. Songs just move me. My goal is to have my own dance studio, and I hope to attend UNCG to major in dance.”
Lastly, seniors Alexander Simpson and Jalen Troublefield are moving on with two individual acts; a scene from the play Down Came the Rain and the song “Feed Me (Git it)” from the Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors.
Alexander is returning to compete for a Thespy for the second time, and Jalen is competing for the first time at an international level in the individual acts.
In an interview with Jalen, “Me personally, I am excited because this will be my first time performing in the independent events at the international level, which is awesome. I am also excited about the great experience and to do it with a good friend of mine.”
Due to the contrasting characters of the two men’s pieces, they require a lot of rehearsal time and character work, but not too much work.
Alexander Simpson says, “Our biggest strategy is building as much character in our pieces as possible. We want to convey not two actors on stage but to bring the judges and the audience into the moment with convincing characters and real-life stories. We tried not to over-rehearse to keep scenes and songs fresh and new to react to each other differently every performance.”
While rehearsing for their upcoming competition, the men are also preparing to go to college. Alexander Simpson will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in political science with a possible minor in dramatic arts. “Even if I don’t minor in dramatic arts, I will still stay extremely active in the theater community while I finish my studies there.”
Jalen Troublefield will attend Greensboro College to major in musical theater with a minor in dance, hoping to earn a teaching degree later down the line. “I want to spread the knowledge of theater I have learned because musical theater is my passion, and I want to share that with others.”
Despite all the talent radiating from North Moore Theater, their immense talent alone cannot generate the funding needed to attend the International Thespian Festival. The cost of each attendee is $1,365. With 24 participants, the theater must raise over $32,000.
There are several opportunities to donate and participate in fundraising to help cover the costs. A pasta bingo night is being held at 7 p.m. at North Moore High School on June 2. The theater is holding a yard sale and car wash at Robbin’s GreenSpace on the morning of June 3. They are performing their ensemble show, PolkaDots, at the Sunrise Theater on June 16 at 7 p.m.
If you cannot attend the events and would still like to donate, please contact the theater’s director Kimberly Fielder-Jones directly at [email protected].
Feature photo: North Moore High School Theater students-courtesy photo.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel contributor Emma Mack.
