Forty-eight Monarch thespians attended the Colorado Thespian Conference in Denver, on Dec. 4-6, for three days of workshops, competitions and fun. The conference was open to all dedicated high school theatre students from Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico and is an annual event that the Monarch thespians have attended every year since the school opened.

     For the first time in Monarch’s history, its fall production was entered to perform at the conference. The fall play, “Dracula,” was judged during its Friday and Saturday night performances, without the cast and crew’s knowledge, by a representative from the Colorado Thespians. Although they were not selected to perform on the main stage at the conference, they put on what some are calling Monarch’s best play to date.

     “If we had been selected, we would have performed in front of the whole state delegation of Colorado Thespians, which is about 3,000 people,” said Gwendolyn Lukas-Doctor, the head director of “Dracula.” “If they liked us there we could have potentially been entered to perform at a national level in Lincoln, Nebraska over the summer.”

     Having never entered to perform a full-stage production at the conference, the cast and crew of “Dracula” put in extra time and energy to make their show worthy of performing for such a large audience by including pyrotechnics and increasing funding, and vintage set pieces. Technical Director Brian du Fresne and the crew of “Dracula” spent late evenings working on the technical aspects of the show. If chosen, the technical work in its entirety would have needed to have been transferred to Denver.

     “To be honest, it would have been a headache because if we had been selected, we would have had to transport our entire set to downtown Denver and everyone needs to register for the conference. It’s a lot of work but it’d be worth it,” Lukas-Doctor said.

     Registering became an issue when the judges announced their decision later than was expected. The scheduled date of announcing was postponed until Nov. 14, which was four days after the registration for all attendants was due.

     Students can also compete in individual categories against other thespians from around Colorado. The areas of competition include monologue, duet acting, solo/duet musical theatre, group musical theatre, group acting, mime, costume design and construction, theatre marketing, and scenic, lighting, and sound design.

     Many Monarch thespians participated in the competitions, including senior and Monarch Thespian Secretary Rachel Briggs.

     “Competing at the thespian conference is my favorite part. I really love getting to show everyone that acting is something that I’m passionate about,” Briggs said.

     This year, she competed in the monologue category, which required her to perform two contrasting monologues.

     Actors receiving an “outstanding” grade are given the honor of qualifying to compete at the national level or showcasing, where they get to perform in front of all of the attendants at the conference on the final night. Last year, 2008 Monarch graduate Matt Cantwell showcased his solo musical theatre song. He also qualified for nationals in the duet musical theatre category with fellow Monarch graduate, Devyn Cordes.

     “Even though I wasn’t competing, I learned a lot through the workshops,” said sophomore Desiree Garneau, who attended the conference both this year and last year.

     Some of the optional workshops were Playwriting, Acting on Film, Yoga for Actors, Improvisation, Swing Dancing, and Stage Combat.

     “The thespian conference is a time for thespians to get together with other people from around the state so that they can meet new people and go to workshops taught by professionals that vary in different topics,” Monarch Thespian President Josh Hickernell said.

     The thespian conference is an opportunity for the thespians to be educated in workshops, show off their talents, and observe theatre in action.