The UIL Theatrical Design Contest is a competition where students create set and costume designs, apply makeup, and create marketing plans including posters and programs for a specific play. The UIL office selected HadesTown by Anais Mitchell for this year’s competition. The musical is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek myth of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice and their journey into the underworld for the sake of love.
Frenship High School technical theatre and design teacher Lindsey Pierson took the story to heart and encouraged her students to enter the competition.
“One of the main themes in HadesTown is that there is value in trying, even if we fail. Orpheus is a hero not because he succeeds, but because he tries. I believe more stories need to be shared of trying without success. The reward is in the trying,” said Pierson. “I challenged the advanced technical theatre class to enter their ideas, concepts, and designs into the contest this year. I am so proud they took the risk, struggled using their time, energy, passion and skills to rise to the occasion.”
A group of four students, Alexandra Phillips, Courtney Blackmon, Halle Bowyer, and Olivia Padron submitted a group project in the preliminaries that included costume design, set design, hair and makeup design, and marketing. Each student played their own role, but collectively came together to create a masterpiece that drew inspiration from the French Revolution.
“Alexandra hand sewed her own costume with her concept of the show in mind. Halle created all the makeup and hair looks on student models. Olivia made a trailer for marketing as well as a marketing pitch to show how she would promote the play. Courtney rendered a scale model ground plan and a three-dimensional set design,” said Pierson. “
Pierson says the process is quite grueling as they must make a prompt address, justification papers, plate their work, and create an image board of their conceptual design, as well as interviews by the judges. At the end of the day, the students’ work was identified as one of the best in the region and the group will head to present their work at the UIL State Contest May 10-12.
“The most amazing part is that students in my class are offering their expertise - even though their projects didn’t get to state - to help make revisions on the group’s project so it will be ready for state. It just tells you what kind of beautiful souls we get to work with that swallow their pride and show up for each other,” said Pierson. “It has been humbling to watch these artists support and give their time because they love the art and being a part of the whole. Now, it’s time for them to take a curtain call and get a standing ovation. I’m happy for these artists. There are so many more at Frenship that will leave you floored with their work. They are diamonds.”
These students earned a well-deserved round of applause for their dedication and talent.