More than 450 high school students will visit campus on Friday, Jan. 9, for the 23rd Annual High School Scene Festival and Technical Olympics.
The all-day event, which is sponsored by Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of Theatre and New Dance, celebrates theatre arts and encourages the next generation of actors, designers and technicians.
Students can compete on the stage and behind the scenes. Actors will showcase scripted scenes, and designers will demonstrate skills in sets, lighting and costumes. Awards and scholarships will be given to the top performers. The judges are industry professionals and Cal Poly Pomona faculty and alumni.
Faculty members will also host workshops to help students hone their skills in improvisation, audition techniques, scene painting and makeup.
Students will be able to network with their peers and the university community, and see that a degree in theatre can be used not only on the stage, but also for careers as technicians, lighting designers, costumers and other production jobs.
“We’re pleased to have such a long history of reaching out to the region’s budding actions and tomorrow’s designers and technicians,” says Bernardo Solano, chair of the Department of Theatre and New Dance. “We want to create a collaborative environment where students can share ideas about their craft.”
The High School Scene Festival is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Building 25 and the Bronco Student Center.