(photos taken randomly at all workshops)

About 160 Oak Park and River Forest middle school students participated in a Tri-District Theatre Fest Friday, May 16, to help celebrate the Midwest premiere of the stage adaptation of Louis Sachar’s popular novel, Holes, at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Staff, students, and parent volunteers from District 97’s Gwendolyn Brooks and Percy Julian Middle Schools and from District 90’s Roosevelt Middle School spent the afternoon touring the high school’s performing arts facilities and attending their top three choices among workshops offered in Dance Audition, Sound Design, Lighting, Painting, Rigging, Construction, Improvisation, Acting Auditions and Makeup. Workshops were staffed by OPRFHS faculty in the Fine and Performing Arts Division, with the assistance of high school student volunteers active in the performing arts program.

After a snack and welcome by OPRFHS Superintendent/Principal Dr. Susan Bridge, students enjoyed an afternoon performance of “Holes,” followed by a lively Q & A session with the show’s student cast members and professional director Paul Amandes and producer Joe Hallissey.

“This event proved a delightful way to introduce our communities’ middle school students and staff to some of the tremendous opportunities available at their high school,” said Mr. Hallissey, OPRFHS Speech Arts Department Head. “We appreciated the willingness of our sender districts to be part of this exciting premier of “Holes,” and, at the same time, to offer their students another in-depth transitional experience that will help them feel at home when they start high school.”

Participating OPRFHS staff included: Mr. Bill Boulware, Fine and Performing Arts Division Head; Mr. Hallissey, “Holes” producer/tech; Ms. Lucy Vrusic-Riner, dance; Patt Cheney- costumes/makeup; Jacob Fisher – tech/sound; Ellen Boyer- improv, and Jolaine Orlin – acting auditions.

OPRFHS offers its special thanks to all District 90 and 97 faculty, staff, students and parents who make the Tri-District Theatre Festival possible, especially Principals Flora Green (Brooks), Victoria Sharts (Julian), and Joanne Trahanas (Roosevelt) and C.A.S.T., B.R.A.V.O. and middle school staff Bill McGlynn, Malachy Boyle, Kathy Simon, Sue Lindberg, Tami Coty, and Torri Griebel.