Tuscarora and Walkersville High School drama students will compete in the 2013 Maryland Thespians’ Festival taking place this Friday and Saturday, January 11 and 12 at Tuscarora High. Over 600 people are expected to participate and judge the entries, according to Festival coordinator Dorothy DeLucchi, who teaches drama at Tuscarora High.

Professors, theater technicians and professional actors from the Atlantic Coast region will judge the competition. They will rate performances superior, excellent, good or fair in categories ranging from professionalism, characterization and voice to movement, staging and effectiveness. Universities will award scholarships to outstanding students. The University of Maryland and Rowan University in New Jersey will award scholarships up to $38,000. In addition, state-level winners may compete in the International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Tuscarora’s performance of a one-act play called "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" and Walkersville’s "Crosses to Bear" were among 15 entries selected from high schools across Maryland. Local students are also competing in individual events such as monologues and solo musical theater. And they attend workshops from among 60 topics including stage combat, Shakespeare, improv and mask making.

According to Maryland Thespians treasurer and festival coordinator Ms. DeLucchi, local students raised $800 last year for Broadway Cares – Equity Fights AIDS. Their goal this year is to raise $1,000. For additional information including how to donate, please contact Ms. DeLucchi at 240-236-6400 or via email to Dorothy.DeLucchi@fcps.org