Being one of only 20 schools in the world chosen to perform at the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, Prosper Theatre students and directors stepped out of their dream of performing internationally and stepped into reality.

As we celebrate Arts in Education Week, we are reminded of the power of art to break our cultural divisions and inspire us to a world beyond our imagination. This summer Prosper Theatre earned the opportunity to live a reality that was once only in their imagination.   

The program took 24 students to Edinburg, Scotland where they performed their show Queens, a historical play about Henry the VIII and his wives. The troupe performed four times at the International Fringe Festival and then spent two weeks touring London and Scotland, seeing other performances from across the world, and learning about history.  

“The selection process to participate was a rigorous experience,” explained lead director, Vicki Kirkley. “It required extensive examples of Prosper Theatre productions, my teaching philosophy, explanations of how we strive for excellence in everything that Prosper Theatre does, resumes from all of the theater team as well as a detailed statement of how this experience would grow our students.” 

When Prosper Theatre was chosen, the Board of Directors from the American High School Theatre Program stated, “Your program’s commitment to excellence was recognized by our Board of Advisors, composed of respected university and regional theater professionals.

Prosper students lived a once-in-a-lifetime dream through this experience. “These are all experiences that I will never forget,” said Mikayla Sexton, PHS Senior. Pierce Polomsky, PHS Junior, explained, “Performing at the Fringe festival was amazing because we got to see many other schools perform along with us while performing a show which is set in Europe for people in Europe! Overall, the trip really opened my eyes to how big the world really is and how much more there is to see. It was a great learning experience in so many different ways.”

In addition to this amazing opportunity, Prosper Theatre also took 27 students to compete at the International Thespian (ITS) Festival in Indiana. To qualify to compete, these students had to receive superior ratings, winning their state competitions last November. At the ITS festival, almost all of these students received superiors, the highest ratings in the contest, in international competition, competing against the best in the world.

“Prosper Theatre and our Fine Arts program as a whole, continue to exemplify the excellence that happens every day in Prosper ISD,” said Superintendent Dr. Holly Ferguson. “We are proud of the many students, teachers, and directors who work tirelessly to make our world a better place through their craft.”