Lafayette Theatre Newsletter

We are so excited to get the 2026-2027 school year started! This newsletter is your one stop shop for all things Lafayette Theatre - from the Google Calendar to thespian troupe information, class and audition updates, Lafayette Theatre Merch, and more!

The dates for this year's fall play performances, musical auditions, and more are already added to the Lafayette Theatre Google Calendar! Make sure you have synced this with your personal calendars!

Thank you to our Thespians Troupe, especially our presidents Reece Owens and Grace Hellard for putting on an amazing "Clash of the Thespians" on Friday! We had so much fun seeing new faces and reconnecting with old friends! Check out the pictures below to see all of the fun we had!

Our fall play opens in October! Tickets are on sale now to see this 45 minute story in Beeler Auditorium October 8th - 10th.

Three sisters are left in the forest by their woodcutter father. From this fairytale beginning, three resolutions are made – one sister will walk one way, one sister will walk the other and the third will stay right where she is. Twenty years later, having circumnavigated the globe, and fought vikings and crossed oceans and tamed wilds and achieved greatness the three meet again, as women.

A charming, fantastical story about the bond of sisterhood, growing up and finding your own way to happiness.

Appropriate for all ages.

Read below to learn about the process from one of our cast members and Sophomore class rep - Caitlyn Douglas

My name is Caitlyn Douglas, and I am a sophomore SCAPA Theatre Major and Thespian Class Representative. This year, I have had the honor of working with the incredible students of the Lafayette Theatre community on our fall competition play, "This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing." We started rehearsals at the end of August, and we will perform between October 8th and 10th.

Participating in this show has taught me so much about the importance of ensemble work in theatre--this show is only coming together because of the tight-knit ensemble we are building.

And, while the script itself is about family, the cast and crew has already formed a family as well. That initial bond has improved our friendships both on and off of the stage, and demonstrated how theatre is about so much more than simply performing for an audience. It is about sharing a story with the people you are closest with: your friends in the ensemble and on the tech crew, and the people who come to see the show.

We will have auditions for Hello Dolly AND Matilda October 12th- 16th. All students interested in performance or tech need to apply. You will only complete ONE audition form and/or ONE tech form, all audition materials including forms, audition songs, and conflict calendars are due on Friday, 10/9

- HELLO DOLLY-

• The performances for Hello Dolly will be January 28, 29, 30, and 31 in Beeler Auditorium
• We will have a cast of 60-70 students
• We will have 20ish technicians
• We will have a live orchestra of 25ish students. Please see Mr. Kent for more information
• First Rehearsal will be October 26th

- MATILDA -

• The performance for Matilda will be April 29th, 30th and May 1st in Beeler Auditorium
• We will have a cast of 30-35 students
• ​We will have 15ish technicians
• We will have a live orchestra of 15ish students. Please see Mr Kent for more information
• First Rehearsal will be February 9th

Visit our website know how to prepare for auditions, if you have any additional questions feel free to look at our FAQ page and/or email Ms. K or Ms. Gorrell.

We are having a fantastic start to the year in Lafayette Theatre classes!

Ms. K's Intro to Tech Theatre class has completed their safety tests and has begun some design challenges - this week they were challenged to create a hat that could carry a cup of water without spilling! Check out the pictures below to see what they accomplished!

Speaking of design, the advanced tech classes are already hard at work on the costumes and sets for the fall play, there is a lot of patchwork and mod podge being used to make the world of our play come to life! Some groups are even starting on designs for the winter musical! We love seeing our students grow as technicians and collaborators on these long term projects!

All performance classes have just completed their ensemble units! Now, we are working on Thespy projects for the Kentucky Thespians Festival in Theatre 3, Theatre 4, and SCAPA 3/4 while Theatre 2 is creating resumes and learning about how to give their best audition and Intro to Theatre is learning about the technical, literary, and performance elements of theatre!

Ms. Kisling and Ms. Gorrell are so thankful to have classes full of hardworking, creative, and collaborative students and can't wait to see what they will accomplish in theatre this year!

Check out this amazing patchwork apron sewn by sophomore theatre student and costume coordinator - Abby Thomas!

The Lafayette Theatre Thespian Troupe is so excited to start this year off on a strong note - if you are in the troupe please make sure you have the following dates on the calendar!

301 will be open from 3:20-4:00 on the following Thursdays for any students who need help with auditions, recordings, thespy preparation, or have questions about the Lafayette Theatre program!

Thursday, 9/17 - Thespy Thursday

Thursday, 9/24 - Thespy Thursday

Thursday, 10/8 - Thespy Thursday

Monday, 10/19 - Thespy Submissions, College Auditions, and Scholarship Info Due to KTF Website

Do you love Lafayette Theatre? Do you want to represent us all the time? Check out the Lafayette Theatre Store through K3 Kreations! All orders can be delivered to school or picked up at their location! From t-shirts to sweatpants to pull overs to tote bags, we have it all!

If you are interested in continuing training outside of school, check out this list! Everything from LCT's weekly company auditions to training programs with The Lex and show auditions across town are coming up! There are a LOT of auditions in the next week for Christmas shows at Woodford Theatre, Lexington Children's Theatre, and Leeds!

Ms. Gorrell has compiled a list of auditions, classes, and volunteer opportunities in Lexington.

If you notice something is left off or have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. Gorrell and she will add things to the list!

The University of Kentucky is excited to welcome high school students to the University of Kentucky for a day of theatre, learning, and exploration! This event offers students the opportunity to deepen their theatre training while experiencing the UK Department of Theatre & Dance.

To register or learn more, check out the link HERE! Please note this is NOT a field trip, just a great learning opportunity for students if interested!

Participants will:

• Attend a performance of Almost, Maine followed by a Q&A with the student cast and production team.
• Participate in a master class of their choice led by UK Theatre & Dance faculty.
• Receive a complimentary lunch at Champions Kitchen in the Gatton Student Center.
• Capacity: 120 students

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

• 9:30 -10am - Sign-in (Fine Arts Building Lobby, 465 Rose Street)
• 10:00 -12:00pm - Performance & Talkback: Watch excerpts from Almost, Maine, followed by a Q&A with the cast and production team. (Guignol Theatre)
• 12:00pm -12:45pm - Complimentary Lunch (Champions Kitchen, Gatton Student Center)
• 1:00-2:00pm - Faculty Master Classes: Students will select one theatre workshop from a variety of sessions led by UK Theatre & Dance faculty

We are working to share these out throughout the summer on social media!