TEMPLE, Texas — A Temple High School theatre arts student brought home some hardware after earning a medal finish at the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) State Theatrical Design Contest last weekend in Austin.
Temple High School junior Shaylee Whiteley posted a sixth-place individual finish to win a medal in the 6A Hair and Makeup Design competition as part of the UIL’s State Theatrical Design Meet. Whiteley had to submit renderings of her makeup and hair designs, photos of the executed designs, and a justification paper explaining her choices, themes, and designs. She also had to give a 60 to 90-second presentation to the judges about her submission to demonstrate her understanding and knowledge of her designs. The designs were for characters from “The King Stag” adapted from Carlos Gozzi’s “il Re Cervo” by Eberle Thomas and Barbara Redmond. This was Whiteley’s first time competing in Hair and Makeup Design. She says just making it to state was a pleasant surprise, and bringing a medal is icing on the cake.
“I don’t know if I have fully processed it yet because I didn’t think I could do it,” Whiteley said. “It is kind of mid-blowing to me. I was stunned at first and just kind of sat there for a second before we all just ran for the stage. I didn’t even expect to make it to state, so this is great.”
Whiteley spent several months working on and executing her designs. The preparations for the Theatrical Design Contest also came right in the middle of another competition season. Whiteley also played a major role in Temple High School’s production of “Othello” that advanced to the Regional round of the UIL One-Act Play competition.
“She was working on her theatrical design submissions at the same time we were working on One-Act Play,” said Kayla Stewart, director of theatre arts for Temple High School. “Shaylee was our head stage manager, so she had a lot to juggle. We are really, really excited for her to place and we are hopeful that she will be right back at state next year.”
Temple High School sophomore Jai’lya Griffin also qualified for the UIL State Theatrical Design Contest in Hair and Makeup Design, giving THS two of the 17 competitors in the state competition. The UIL State Theatrical Design Contest was held May 15-16th at the Austin Performing Arts Center.