Southmoore High School theatre program asks community for help reaching international competition

The Southmoore High School theatre program is seeking help from the community for the chance to take part in an international competition.

The Southmoore program is the first from Oklahoma to qualify, and the Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch spoke with students and leaders about the "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

In October, the school hosted the state’s inaugural Oklahoma Thespian State One Act Festival, coming away with the coveted Chapter Select Show honor and earning the chance to take part in the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana, in June.

Southmoore teacher and theatre director Brooke Perez said the program was elated by the opportunity.

"It's a first of its kind opportunity that's never been done before, so it's a huge honor for myself and for the kiddos that participated in this one act when we did it back in October," Perez said. "It's a really awesome opportunity to go and attend the festival and just show everybody what they have accomplished."

As for attending the festival in Indiana, Perez said the program is still coming up with ways to fund the trip.

"It's actually $60,000, my objective is to get the kids who participated in the show there for no out-of-pocket expense for the families and the students," Perez said. "It is an honor, and I don't feel like they should have to pay for it. We have been working to raise $60,000 to get there, we've achieved 40,000 of that $60,000."

Perez said the program is still fundraising to reach its goal, and hopes that the students taking part in this opportunity learn much more from the experience.

"Theater does so much more than just give kids the opportunity to perform," Perez said. "It teaches them how to be empathetic, it teaches kids how to just speak to one another and to live a kind life, because they can put themselves in somebody else's shoes as a character and see how interactions with life happen."

To donate to Southmoore High School's theatre program, Perez says you can email her at andreaperez@mooreschools.com.