A Free State High School junior’s short film earned a superior rating Tuesday evening at the Virtual International Thespian Festival, her teacher said.
Caroline Börk qualified for the ITF competition after receiving a superior rating in December 2020 at a combined state virtual festival with Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, according to Brian Percival, theatre teacher/director at Free State.
Börk’s film, “Alone,” made her the second student in Free State’s history to receive a superior rating at the international festival, Percival said.
District spokesperson Julie Boyle said via email Wednesday that the educational program gives thespians, or students who have been inducted into the International Thespian Society, “the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material and technical designs.”
To his knowledge, Percival said, FSHS hadn’t attended the international festival prior to last year.
He said students love attending the Kansas Thespian Festival, and the international event is a “fun week in the summer of just focusing on theatre and students and teachers meet people from other schools all over the world!”
“When the event is in person in Bloomington, Indiana next year, I hope to take a group of students to attend ITF. Not just so those that qualified can compete, but to attend workshops, see shows, and audition for colleges and scholarships,” Percival said via email.
Two other Free State students competed in individual events: junior Julia Ruddy, who received an excellent rating, and senior Mary Green, who received a good rating, Percival said.
View Börk’s film below or on YouTube:
Note: This story has been corrected to remove inaccurate information from the district.
