Last day

Well, we're almost there. We finished our last performance yesterday. Our students were magnificent. I knew this would be a good experience for our kids, but I don't think I anticipated how wonderful it was to watch them experience it. I knew our kids were great, but watching them here showed me that in addition to being fantastic performers, they are amazing people. They continually set the bar for behavior, consideration, care, and kindness. Every parent back home should be proud.

I've included a few more pics from our students in front of the theatre where they performed, and we're looking forward to showing lots more at our celebration dinner.

See you back home in Missouri.

Mrs. S

Pictures

It's been a busy week, so it's time to catch up on some pictures of our students at the Celidh (pronounced Kay-lee), and on our visit to Stirling Castle and the Trossachs. We were very lucky to have such warm weather and sunshine. It's been unseasonably warm, so much so that we've seen some rather "pink and blobby" Scotmen with their shirts off! (I'm quoting our tour guide Shauna who was exceedingly funny:))

Quotes - part 2

And here are the thoughts from the rest of our crew:

I wish I could have done this earlier in high school because it is such a bonding experience. I love everyone dearly on this trip. I also have never been so moved by theater until we saw a strange wild song. Love this trip. Laura weis

This country is greatly more historical than the US and is great to walk around and eat lunch in. The people are great here and the cast is one big family.  Michael Wilson

We really have bonded as a cast because of how much time we have spent together. I love everyone here and hope the friendships I've made will last once we get back, especially with the graduates! There are so many fantastic shows I've seen here, and I'm so grateful this is how I've spent the end of my summer. Claire Salzman

It's so beautiful! And being able to bond with the cast has been amazing. I'm so glad this is how I've ended the summer. It has been a once in a life time experience. The shows have all been phenomenal. We have all bonded on this trip and I hope that bond doesn't end when we get back to the states. It has given me memories that I will take to Texas. -- Meghan Tinkham

The cast has really come together as a family over the past few days, and most of the independent shows that we've gone to have been as a large group.  Every show I've see has been amazing I can't believe how talented the other high schools are.  I'm going to miss scotland when I get back to the states.
--Minna Onken

I never want this trip to end- everyone in the cast has bonded so much over the past week- I'm sad I don't have another year with these people because we all have gotten to be such good friends. We've seen so much incredible theatre- the best high school show I've ever seen, a beautiful piece of physical theatre, and a hilarious improvised musical to name a few. This trip has introduced me to the city of Edinburgh and I want nothing more than to come back in a few years and study abroad here. I love it more every day. -Alina Luke

 

Quotes

Here are some quotes from our students about their time here in Scotland.

Quotes

I have really enjoyed seeing the other high school performances. Especially The Talented Mr. Ripley. It has been great to see the character and staging choices that they made and getting to see all the incredible talent that is here.
-Becca Comfort

Touring a foreign country has been fantastic. I love the freedom of being able to walk around the area and see some amazing theatre. Also seeing other great high school shows is very cool.
-Connor A-P

Scotland is much more unique and quirky of a place than I expected, especially during the Fringe. Apart from seeing many awesome shows, highlights for me have been hiking up a giant hill, seeing a Jane Austen improv group, and accidentally getting to watch some beautiful fireworks downtown. I miss my little family and am anxious to see them again, though in no hurry to return either!
- Eleanor H.

Scotland has been such a growing experience for me, it's helped me build what I hope to be life long relationships. This trip has opened my eyes to a whole new world of things that I would have never been able to see within my own back yard. This has been the best trip ever, and I will have many stories to tell when i return home!
-Adrienne C

Getting to participate in something like this is a once in a lifetime chance and seeing amazing theater at the same time just makes this all the better. There is no place I would rather be right now and I am loving every second I spend in this beautiful country.
-Brian Brennan

This trip has been one of the best experiences of my life. Being able to perform in front of my peers and watch my peers perform has allowed me to see theater in a new light. Also I have been able to interact with people that I probably never would have any other place.
-Jack Vatterott

I have never had so many breath taking moments in such a short period of time before this trip. From climbing mountains, to seeing other theater groups perform, and to Claire actually meaning every word that comes out of her mouth, this trip is one I will never forget. The experience has been stressful at times but has paid off 100% and there is no other group of people I would have chosen to do this with.
-Sammi Kuehnlein

The country, the atmosphere, the shows we have seen have all been such a fusion of different cultures and talents. It is amazing that we get an opportunity to come here and spend time doing what we love in theater and showing our stuff, as well as learning from other groups! We're getting to know each other, we're getting pushed out of our comfort zone, we're jumping into new things. We get to do it all here, and it's so satisfying.
-Lauren Kelly

This Scotland trip has been amazing, even more fun than I had first expected. Getting to perform overseas has been so fun and Scotland is beautiful. Even the weather has been nice! The trip has brought me so much closer to everyone and I already have so many memories I will never forget.
Jack Rowland

This trip has really broadened my horizons for life in seeing new parts of the world, performing in seeing so many different forms of theater, and also really helped me form some unforgettable bonds with people-
Vince Bottom

There's only one word to describe Scotland.....FANTASTIC! I've absolutely adored the UK, and the weather has been beautiful. I'm really happy to be ending my time at kirkwood high with the most amazing cast in the world on a trip of a lifetime. I'm really going to miss many things on this trip, the shopping, the fabulous productions, oh and let's not forget the wonderful crowded streets. :)
Love,
 Ieshah Edwards

If I had to choose a place to take a touring production, I couldn't think of a better location than Edinburgh, where the productions are tight and men's pants are even tighter.

Also, cold and rainy? My butt...

Regardless, I've had a great time- Ben Sulser

Scotland is extremely beautiful, I could have easily stayed month and months longer. It has made me realize just how interesting and fun a school trip could be.  Edinburgh is one of my favourite foreign cities now and I can't wait to come back. Also, everyone is wrong about the weather it's fantastic outside.
Best wishes
Andrew Englund

I never want to leave. Every experience is so unique and I've truly treasured every moment.  To be able to perform in such an environment is easily one of the most amazing things I've ever done. The cast has bonded over everything from mountain climbing and scottish dancing to mean night guards and bus sleeping, and we've grown incredibly close. I love everything about this place and I can't wait to return.
Emily Riggs

Intensity in Edinburgh

It's taken a while to post. Since we have arrived in Edinburgh, things have been in a whirlwind. The student immediately began a walking tour in the drizzle ( after being on the road in a bus for 6 hours), followed by a bus tour of the city. We then arrived at the University of Edinburgh campus to settle into Pollack halls, where we'll be staying for the remainder of the time here. the next day we had rather warm weather for Edinburgh, so the students took a hike up Arthur's Seat, the mountain behind our dorms. The adults took a hike of our own, walking up the 287 steps of the Walter Scott monument. In the afternoon we had our advertising opportunity by performing on the lower stage of the Royal Mile.

Sunday we had our 2 hour tech in the performance space at Church Hill. It was very stressful. Students had to adjust to the different space and write light cues in a short amount of time. We had a refresher rehearsal in the common room, and it really helped the students regroup. In the evening the students went to see a performance of The Last Five Years (they said it was mediocre,) while the adults went to see a very cool show at the Bedlam Theatre called a Strange Wild Song. It was influenced by photos of children during WWII and how they were affected by the violence around them. Hilarious in moments as well as heart breaking.

Today we had our first show. We had a larger audience than we expected, and our students were great. We have a few glitches to work out since this was our first run thru in the space with all the technical elements, but they were fantastic. Students ended the night with ceilidh, a Scottish dance. They had a blast and were completely worn out. They will sleep well before we get up to visit Stirling Castle in the morning.

I'll find a way to add more pictures soon.

Mrs. Schnider

The Visit to Stratford

We took the motor coach from Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. Students got to tour the Nash house and see the excavation of one of Shakespeare's homes. They toured the house of his birth, saw some street performers act out famous Shakespearean scenes, and also visited Holy Trinity Church where he's buried. We ate a fish 'n chips dinner (a few were gutsy and ate bangers and mash, and a few chickens liked saying "bangers and mash" while they ate their cheeseburger.)  in the evening we proceeded to the Royal Shakespeare Company to watch an excellent performance of The Tempest. It was a fabulous concept and brilliantly acted.  Ms. Obermeier drooled over the costumes, Mr. Booth was jealous of their tech and budget, and I gave a standing ovation at the end-- and those that know me know how rarely that happens. The students were going to write this blog, but they have to get up and be on the bus by 7:30 to travel for 6 hours, so they went to bed!  We'll try to get them on it tomorrow.

Mrs. Schnider

Here we go!

After leaving St. Louis, we landed in London around 7:30 am (1:30am Missouri time), and began a walking tour of London. We saw the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Globe Theatre,  and Buckingham Palace. Although students are exhausted ( they've been up for 30 hours with only a few naps) they've been amazing. They finally collapsed on the bus on the way to Birmingham, and we're off to Stratford tomorrow  to see The Tempest performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Keep an eye out for more photos and student commentary!

Mrs. Schnider