Two Addison Trail students and one staff member/alumnus selected for 2017 Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State production

Addison Trail will be well-represented during the 2017 Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF), as two students and one staff member (who is an alumnus of the school) have been selected to participate in the festival’s All-State production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Senior Trevor Yurek will be part of the pit orchestra, senior Victor Jaimes will be part of the crew and Theatre Tech Assistant Alex Holod was asked to be part of the production team and will serve as Props Master. The performance will take place from Jan. 5 to 7, 2017, in Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The event is for participants of the IHSTF and is not open to the public.

Featuring a thrilling score by Stephen Sondheim and a witty book by Hugh Wheeler, “Sweeney Todd” tells a tale of revenge, class and murder. Based on the fabled character in 19th-century Victorian London, Sweeney Todd returns to London after being wrongfully sent away 15 years prior. Having been ripped away from his wife and daughter, Sweeney vows to avenge his unjust conviction and kill the man who cast him away.

The All-State cast, crew and pit orchestra are comprised of top student performers, musicians and technicians from throughout Illinois. Nearly 400 students from 73 high schools auditioned/interviewed for this year’s production, and 109 were selected for the final production company.

“I’m really excited to represent Addison Trail,” Yurek said. “I’ve seen previous All-State productions, and I’ve always been amazed at the quality of the show.”

Yurek will play trombone in the pit orchestra and said he has been playing for about eight years. He added the group has been rehearsing for about 20 hours one weekend a month for about five months.

As a member of the crew, Jaimes is working on props for the show. As part of his audition process, he had to compile a portfolio of his work and interview with the stage manager. He said it has been a fun challenge to find and create props that fit the 19th-centurty style of the show.

While this will be the first All-State production for Yurek and Jaimes, Holod has a different perspective. He participated in the All-State production of “Hairspray” as the light-board operator when he was a student and is excited to return as a staff member. Holod graduated from Addison Trail in 2009 and said being involved with theatre is “like being home.”

“I’m incredibly honored to have been asked to participate in the All-State production of ‘Sweeney Todd,’” Holod said. “It’s a tremendous recognition for me, as well as for Addison Trail. It’s awesome to work with some of the best and brightest students in Illinois, who are dedicated and love theatre.”

About the Illinois High School Theatre Festival
Now in its 42nd consecutive year, the Illinois High School Theatre Festival (produced by the Illinois Theatre Association) is the largest and oldest non-competitive high school theatre festival in the world. The three-day festival takes place every year in early January and switches locations between University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University. More than 4,000 students, teachers, university representatives, exhibitors and volunteers come together to put on more than 25 different high school productions and more than 150 workshops. This year’s festival is themed “Find Your Truth: Discover, Uncover, Reveal.” For more information about the festival, go to www.illinoistheatrefest.org.