Once a year, on the third weekend in January, a strange buzzing can be heard emanating from downtown Houston.
Locals insist that the droning, endless buzz can be heard as far away as Brenham. Shrouded in mystery and wonder, from the halls and convention rooms of the Hyatt Regency hotel radiates the energy and excitement that can only come from approximately 1,800 theatre people gathered in one place. Those mad or brave enough to attend the annual convention of the Texas Educational Theatre Association (TheatreFest) can truly describe what it feels like when your world suddenly seems both huge and small at the same time.
TheatreFest is intended for teachers and students of Theatre from all corners of Texas, ranging from middle school through graduate school. The entire basement of the vast hotel is full to capacity with booths from schools, conservatories, publishing companies, stage equipment suppliers, costume sellers, and set design exhibitions. Anything you’re looking for – anything you need to create a successful theatrical performance can be found.
The rest of the building is dedicated to workshops, presentations, and performances. In the space of three days, you have the opportunity to see four or five plays and countless workshops on every subject from designing masks out of thermoplastics, to writing a new play, to creating new educational lesson plans. You can even see live performances by some of the most beloved Broadway stars.
Two of the special guests at this year’s TheatreFest were Donna McKechne, Broadway’s first Cassie in A Chorus Line, and Tyne Daly, known for her Emmy-award-winning television series Cagney and Lacey. Both received thunderous standing ovations as they shared their wit and wisdom based on the longevity of their careers.
McKechne was stellar as she sang, danced, and mesmerized the audience with her stories of her professional career. Daly, a 50-year card-carrying professional actress, was wry and witty as she shared thoughts about how to grow as an artist. Audience members were enthralled by both legends and were very appreciative of the opportunity to learn from these incredible performers.
Nicholas Ewen, Howard Payne assistant professor of Theatre, presented his own workshop, Lord Nick’s Armor Tricks to a packed room. Marching into the room wearing shiny leather and metal plate chest armor, bracers, and a steel helmet with stag antlers protruding wickedly from the crown certainly made an impression and elicited a few supportive cheers from the crowd (pictured above).
Ewen proceeded to describe how he made all of this armor from everyday items found on Wal-Mart shelves. Needless to say those who were able to attend his workshop were definitely impressed with Ewen’s clever creativity and left with new hopes and dreams of building their very own armor.
Also attending from HPU were seven Theatre majors: Katie Dobson, Tucker Hull, Jared Russell, Phoenix Solis, Alex Taliaferro, Dorie Walton, and Jarrod White. Although it was the first time to attend TheatreFest for all of them, the HPU students showed no fear in the midst of a nearly overwhelming mass of drama personalities and immediately began making new connections, learning new ideas, and standing out for their helpfulness and friendliness.
Hull, Russell, and White were actually invited to perform in the staged reading of the Texas Playfest Playwriting Contest winning play, Beauty and the Beast. As always, they performed with 
exceeding talent and professionalism – a true testament to the character of our HPU campus and the Department of Theatre.
Perhaps the greatest honor this year is that Dr. Nancy Jo Humfeld, director of Theatre at HPU, is now officially the president of the Texas Educational Theatre Association. For those who have had the pleasure of learning and working with Humfeld, her election as president is a resounding affirmation of her talent, wisdom, kind-heartedness, and her incredible leadership abilities.
While it did mean she was incredibly busy before and during the convention, our small group from HPU was elated to stand and cheer for her first official announcements as president. As so many people have lived to discover, despite how small we may seem, Howard Payne University leaves quite a large footprint on the world. The reason for that is the incredible talent and servant-minded hearts of our outstanding faculty and students. Pictured left is Dr. Humfled, photo courtesy Heather Nix Photography.
As our faculty and students return home from Houston, ears still ringing from the exhilaration of TheatreFest 2013, they bring with them new ideas, new possibilities, and new appreciation for chosen craft. TheatreFest is more than just a chance to attend some workshops, buy stuff, and see talented performers. It is about proving to ourselves, to each other, and to the world that being a teacher or student of Theatre is more than a career choice – it is the mandate of our hearts, given to us by our Creator, and nurtured by our ability to share it.
