Performers invited to Scotland

Moorhead and Fargo North high school drama students are taking their shows on the road -- and across an ocean.

Aspiring actors and actresses from both schools have been invited to perform at Scotland's Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2003.

Moorhead and North High are two of 23 U.S. schools selected to attend the three-week arts festival, the largest of its kind in the world.

"This is a huge honor for these kids," said Rebecca Meyer-Larson, Moorhead's theater director.

"Our students are going to be able to rub elbows with the best of the international arts community, she said.

North High drama teacher Michelle Herman said the students will be exposed to performances from all over the world, including Africa, South America, Asia and Europe.

"It's an opportunity that kids from North Dakota don't get that often, especially theater kids," she said.

More than 600 schools were nominated to perform in Scotland in 2003.

Meyer-Larson said the board of directors of the American High School Theatre Festival invited Moorhead to travel overseas because of its strong theater background.

Acclaimed performances in the 1950s rock musical "Grease" in 2001 and an award-winning production of "Godspell" in November didn't hurt, either.

"I'll say it until I'm blue in the face -- these kids are unbelievably talented," Meyer-Larson said.

The Spuds drama director said up to 50 Moorhead students will attend the Scottish festival and perform Studs Terkle's "Working."

The musical will debut at Moorhead High this fall and cast members will reprise their roles in Edinburgh.

A number of Moorhead students already plan to take part in the musical.

"This is a great opportunity," said Peter Gulsvig, a junior and cast member in "Godspell" and "Grease."

"It's going to be a good learning experience," added Hugh Kennedy, a sophomore.

Louise McLarnan, a sophomore, plans to track her Scottish roots on the trip.

"I've been told I have to find my family crest when I'm there," McLarnan said.

Krista Costin, a sophomore who played Rizzo in "Grease," called the festival selection a team effort.

"We did it ourselves as part of a big team," she said.

Herman said she and North High's assistant theater director plan to meet with Superintendent David Flowers later this week to work out the logistics of going to Scotland. The school district decided in December to pull official backing for overseas student trips in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks growing concerns for Americans' safety overseas.

District officials said that doesn't mean students can't take trips. It just means the school district won't sponsor them.

Herman said North High has about 103 students involved in theater in some way who would be eligible to take part in the Edinburgh festival. However, the number who'd make the trip likely would be closer to 30, she said.

The students would put on three performances. Herman said she has held off working out the details of those performances until she has a chance to meet with Flowers and solidify travel plans and fund-raising efforts.

Each year, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival attracts more than 500,000 drama lovers.

Details on this summer's festival can be found on its Web site ( www.edfringe.com ) beginning Friday.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Cole Short at (701) 241-5557

Forum reporter Ellen Crawford contributed to this story