Hundreds of teenagers roamed the halls of the Omni Hotel. Some of them sing, some of them dance, but they all came there to do one thing. Act.

Through November 21 to November 23, a group of 25 Marcus theater students went to the 2013 Texas State Thespian Convention. Students competed in multiple events including technical, musical, and acting competitions.

“It was every theatre kid’s dream,” senior Cleo Lissade, who competed in duet musical, said. “Although everyone was competing against each other, the people were still kind and fun to be with.”

This year students competed in short film, monologue, duet acting, group acting, solo musical, duet musical, group musical, theatre tech relays and technical events related to the departments fall show The Crucible.

“I feel like we had a really strong showing,” junior Nico Adame, who competed in stage management, said. “We showed a lot of talent.”

Along with competing, students could take a wide variety of acting workshops, including learning Broadway dances to taking classes on accents.

“There was a lot of professional actors and teachers there to teach workshops and promote acting schools.” junior Lilly Ho, who competed in group musical, said.

The national qualifiers were in solo musical, duet musical, group acting and the technical events of sound and lights for the fall show The Crucible.

“Knowing that we qualified for nationals made me so happy,” junior Peighton Hornung, who competed in duet musical, said. “All of our hard work and dedication paid off.”

According to students, the convention was not all about competing, it was about being together and having fun.

“Getting to know people in the troupe was a great bonding experience,” Hornung said. “I got to spend time with my theatre family.”

Even though not everyone was able to go to nationals, most students believe that this event is more of a learning and bonding experience.

“I really enjoyed spending time with friends, new and old, sharing the thing that we all love,” Adame said. “We created a true family.It’s about our craft.”

Nationals will take place in Omaha, Nebraska this coming June. All the qualifiers are excited to go and have heard wonderful things about the national thespian convention.

“I heard nationals is just like state except ten times better,” Lissade said.

National Qualifiers:

Group Acting- Paige Brinzo, Rachel Ramirez, Hope Warner, Brianna Clark, Anna Middleton, Kendra Felmly and Cat Cakmis.

Duet Musical- Peighton Hornung and Cleo Lissade.

Solo Musical- Leanne Halliburton.

Sound Design- Tyler Gammon.

Light Design- Tony Brookbank.