Leyden Players has started off the year with an informational meeting about upcoming trips and events. Mr. Victor Pillola, one of the club sponsors, elaborated on where the group will be heading this year, which includes the 41st annual Illinois State Theatre Fest.

At the beginning of next semester, Leyden Players will be heading down to Illinois State University, where students can attend various workshops for dancing, acting, and singing with professionals of the performance industry. They can also attend the annual dance, see plays and musicals by other high schools, and finally, attend the All- State production of Rent put on by “the very best of the best in the state of Illinois.,” Victor Pillola explained. Mr. Pillola added, “The all- state productions consist of actors and technicians from all over the state, and it really is debatable whether these shows are better than the broadway versions.”

Aside from the big trip, Leyden Players will also be going to the Paramount Theatre in Aurora for some upcoming productions, including Oklahoma, A Christmas Story, Hairspray, and West Side Story. Besides the fun trips, Victor Pillola revealed the lineup of productions that will be put on by Leyden this year.

Leyden Players is always looking for new, friendly faces to come out and help build the sets for these plays. Students may come as much, or as little as they can. This year is looking like a jam packed year for Leyden Players, and while there is no regular meeting schedule, if you want to catch a few live theatre shows and be involved in a completely different way, you can email Mr. Victor Pillola to receive emails on all of the meetings and trips.