“Growing up, I’ve always loved stories; whether through books, movies, or plays. I especially love how theater brings characters to life in real time and I want to be a part of that magic-making,” freshman Joy Chen said. “Mrs. Howell introduced me to theatrical design. I’d always loved designing things; and design mixed with theater sounded like the perfect thing for me. As a shopaholic with a fashion addiction, choosing to focus on costume was an obvious choice for me. I love when a character’s outfit really suits them and I wanted to do that for the characters of King Stag. My favorite part about this competition is the atmosphere and community. Everyone in the theater family is so supportive of each other, and I’ve had a lot of help and encouragement throughout this process. I am so grateful for their support. I’m looking forward to the downtime when we’re not competing. We’ll get to explore Austin and do fun things, and I think those memories are the most important part of the state trip. I think this competition isn’t really a competition at all; it’s just getting together with other amazing people who share the love for theater. I feel a little nervous, but mostly just excited that I qualified. It’s gonna be a really fun experience and I can’t wait to go!”