2022 marked the International Thespian Festival's return to a five-day, in-person format after the pandemic caused the festival to explore virtual formats in 2020 and 2021. Broadway's Michael James Scott (Aladdin, Something Rotten!) hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, bookending a joyous week full of live theatre and about 4,000 attendees.

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During the Opening Ceremony, Michael performed "Friend Like Me" with students from Floyd Central High School (Floyds Knobs, Indiana), introduced other student performances, welcomed keynote speaker/singer Storm Lever (Six), and set the tone for the week with his energetic antics and genuine love of educational theatre.

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Because performers and presenters represented educational theatre programs from all over the country, the individual elements of the show were put together separately, and then stitched together in an all-day tech/dress rehearsal on the performance day. In addition to providing direction for the show, I wrote the script for the evening's festivities.