Four Warrenton High School theater students have an opportunity to attend a theater festival with contests and workshops in Nebraska, and they could use help getting there.The group is planning a trip to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., to attend the International Thespian Festival June 24-29, produced by the Educational Theatre Association.Bethanie Swiney is the theatre director at Warrenton High School.Swiney said the cost is $840 per student. Each student will pay $450. They are fundraising for the balance.The festival, which is five days, hosts competitions and workshops to what it calls “high-achieving” middle and high school drama students and their teachers. Workshops include acting and performing, lighting, sets, sound, makeup, costume design and construction, directing, stage management, dance, playwriting and others.Two Warrenton High School students received ratings at a state competition in January qualifying them to compete at the national level at the festival. Austin Kelsch, a senior, is competing in short film. Aarica Jones, a junior, is competing in costume design.Two more students, Abby McCall and Elizabeth McChristy, are attending the festival for its leadership workshops.“This is an amazing opportunity for our students to learn more about the art of theater,” said Swiney, who attended the festival when she was a student and still recalls the productions she saw and the tools she learned.“I use those skills every day from those workshops,” she said. “They learn tools they can apply in any areas of their life.”Leadership, public speaking and presentation skills are among them, she said.The skills they learn will be shared with the theater department, she added.“Our goal is to have it (the trip) paid by June 1,” she said.For information about the International Thespian Festival, visit www.schooltheatre.org.To contribute to the students’ travel fund, contact Swiney at SwineyBH@warrencor3.k12.mo.us or call Warrenton High School at 636-456-6902.Warren County R-III School District logo