EDMOND — For two weeks next August, North High School theater students will be making new friendships with students from all across the world.

They have been invited to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival, held yearly in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is part of the Fringe Festival, the largest theater festival in the world.

As Scotland’s capital is transformed into a magical, unpredictable, thrilling world of entertainment, more than 1 million people will be pouring into the city  view performances all across the town. Literally bursting at the seams, each summer Edinburgh becomes the largest stage in the world for high school performers.

The top high school theater programs are nominated by state, regional and national theater organizations, as well as university theater professors, to participate in AHSTF.

North was chosen as one of 40 schools invited to attend from 3,000 nominations from North and South America.

“Last fall after the One Act Festival, North was nominated to be considered for the Fringe Festival by a theater person at Northwestern University and also by a professional theater person,” said Jena Nelson, North’s drama teacher.

Each nominated school received an application and all completed applications were reviewed by the AHSTF Board of Advisors, made up of college theater professors, Nelson said.

“From the original 3,000 nominations the field was cut significantly to 150 schools,” Nelson said.  

The teacher sent videos of the students’ performances from the One-Act plays as well as last year’s musical, and she had to write an essay about her views on acting, teaching theater and training.

“They wanted to see me direct as one part of the selection,” Nelson said, “and when we made the 150 school cut I was asked to send more information about the program, my teaching philosophy and what past graduates had gone on to do in theater.”

When she received the phone call saying North had made the final cut she said she was excited and overwhelmed at the same time.

“I was excited the students were going to be able to participate in a program of this importance in Scotland,” Nelson said, “and I was overwhelmed knowing that each student would be responsible for raising approximately $5,500 to go.”

Nelson said because the department has grown so much all of the students would not be able to attend.

“The School Board would only allow 25 students to attend so we recently had tryouts and 22 students and three technicians were chosen to participate,” Nelson said.

Students will be performing in venues throughout Edinburgh. Performers will be in theaters, church halls, sports centers and pubs, according to the Smithsonian magazine.

As a director, Nelson was invited to go to Edinburgh last August.

The students will perform as well as tour Scotland after arriving in London and spending a few days touring and seeing four plays.

“I am so excited that the students will be able to have lessons in the Globe Theater,” Nelson said.

The price of the trip for two full weeks of traveling, air fare, performances and food is $5,500.

“We have a year to raise funds,” Nelson said. “We have a strong parent group who will be backing us as we go into the community and invite the community to help us as we raise the money that will be needed.”

Nelson said three parents will be joining her in grant writing as part of the fundraising process.

“I want to emphasize this is not a competition,” Nelson said. “We have already won the competition. This is an opportunity for Edmond students to represent not only the Edmond School District, but the state and the nation at an international event.”

Students kicked off their fundraising with a chili dinner Friday night for the cast and friends. Janelle Straight, a parent helping with fundraising, has scheduled an Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast for a future time.

“The students are planning a second brown bag lunch and theater/coffee house where for a nominal fee they can bring their lunch and perform or just be entertained,” Nelson said.

In October the technical students will be renting costumes and doing Halloween make up for Trick-or-Treating and partying.

“We are looking for corporate sponsors at this time as well as anyone who would like to help,” Nelson said. “This is a huge honor and I want the students to have this experience.”

She added there are three groups of parents working on fundraising for the theater students. One group will be raising money for the school musical, one for the school play, “Romeo and Juliet” and one for the Scotland trip.

For more information, call Nelson at 340-2875.