Fourteen STA cast members raise money to perform in Scottish Festival | by KATHLEEN HOUGH

Each year, millions of people from around the world travel to Scotland to take part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  During this festival, the whole city becomes a stage for actors to perform, while visitors pile into theaters, churches, and stadiums to watch.

Next August, 14 STA students will have the opportunity to join these performing artists on a two-week trip abroad to Edinburgh, Scotland.  The STA cast will perform a comical satire, “Greater Tuna,” on their trip to the Fringe Festival.

“I am so excited!” drama teacher Shana Prentiss said. “It is such a great opportunity for everyone. There is really nothing like [the Fringe Festival].”

According to Prentiss, the students will participate in the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) at the Fringe Festival.  Prentiss, accompanied by English teacher Katie Dolan, will chaperone the group of STA students traveling to Edinburgh next August.

STA was nominated to perform at the Fringe Festival by a man from Washington University in St. Louis, Prentiss said.

“[The man’s] wife and mother-in-law are both alumnae of St. Teresa’s,” Prentiss said.  “He had heard wonderful things about our theater program and felt we deserved a nomination.”

Senior Ellen Gude, who is actively involved in the theater department at STA, agrees with Prentiss that STA was lucky to be nominated.

‘It’s an amazing honor that [STA has] been chosen to perform,’ Gude said.  ‘It shows how strong our theater department is, and all of the hard work [the students] have put forth.’

The students will perform the play ‘Greater Tuna’ four times throughout the two-week period.  In addition, the girls will sightsee in London, England and view other performances at the festival in Edinburgh, Prentiss said.

These memorable experiences come at a cost, however. The price estimation is about $6,000 per girl to cover the cost of the trip, Prentiss said.

As a result, “Greater Tuna” is double-cast so students can still participate in the production without traveling to Scotland.  One cast will perform at STA in February, while the other cast will perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.  In addition, many Scotland cast members will understudy the STA production.

Many students, including Gude, reluctantly opted not to travel to Scotland, but plan to instead perform in the STA production of the play. Other seniors were unable to tryout due to conflicts with their freshman year of college beginning next fall.

‘It’s just a bit expensive right before we have to pay college tuition,’ Gude said.  ‘I might just have to hide in Prentiss’ suitcase to be able to go along.’

Sophomore Rosemary McGraw is one of the 14 students in the ‘Greater Tuna’ cast headed for Scotland.  Although excited to be a part of the excursion, McGraw says money is definitely an obstacle.

‘I have to put forth a lot of money to go,’ McGraw said.  ‘I’m going to have to get a job and do extra things around the house to help pay for [the trip].’

According to Prentiss, although fundraisers are in the works, making a profit will be tough. The fundraisers, including the ‘tailgate party’ in the quad last Thursday and a dance-a-thon this spring, will help benefit the international excursion.

‘We are a private school in the middle of a Capital Campaign, so fundraising is a difficult aspect in itself,’ Prentiss said.  ‘We just have to be realistic in how much money we can raise’”but that won’t stop us from trying.’

If all fundraising goes according to plan, the group will raise half of the grand total, about $45,000, Prentiss said.

‘[The fundraisers] are something that the whole student body can be involved in, not just the girls going on the trip,’ Prentiss said.  ‘Plus, they are really fun!’

Despite the obstacles, there is unanimous excitement among the participants of the group, according to Prentiss.

‘Even after long, tired hours of preparation, I can’t imagine anything I would rather do than prepare for this trip,’ Prentiss said.  ‘I just keep thinking about how valuable the experience is for the students, and it makes everything worth it.’