In their first year as members of the International Thespians Society, Ridley Theatre students recently competed at the Michigan State Thespian Festival. The students competed in various categories including solo and group performance, musical theatre, dance, film and design technology. Competitors received either a good, excellent or superior ranking from the judges. Out of our nine students competing, Jacqueline O’Rourke received an excellent ranking and five of our students were ranked superior: Luis Lopez-Guzman, Maia Bidodchka, Jade Biggar and Eric Gordon (Duet Acting) and Matt Cairns for his solo vocal performance from Jesus Christ Superstar (Matt received a standing ovation for his solo from over one thousand American theatre majors). These six students have been invited to compete in the 50th annual National Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska in June. Ridley College was the only Canadian school in attendance and had proportionally the most students to go onto the nationals.
Jade Biggar and Eric Gordon performed Act II Scene II of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew during assembly on Thursday: