George had the opportunity to tell Lennie about the rabbits one last time in Lincoln Hall at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during Galena High School’s performance of “Of Mice and Men” at the Illinois High School Theater Festival. Over 100 students and chaperones invaded  the large lecture hall on the chilly early January morning.

“It’s a really cool experience to know that other people who don’t know us made the decision to come see our show. It’s not like it’s just family and friends,” said senior Lucius Pham, who played George in John Steinbeck’s classic novel-turned-play.

The GHS Drama Club packed the set into a U-Haul on the Wednesday afternoon, before loading their own suitcases into the Tri-State bus. Students headed for Champaign on Thursday while Mr. Kluzek drove the set to Champaign on Friday night after school ended.

Saturday morning presented  an even more daunting task, waking up at 6:00 and rebuilding the set in Lincoln Hall. Recreating the tall barn walls and old western bunkhouse was to be completed in a short three and a half hours. Each student was given a specific task, from arranging the costumes to installing the styrofoam boards onto the wagons. It all led up to the big moment, the performance.

“Of course with every performance, there are things we could’ve done better, but in the end it was a lot of fun and a unique experience,” said junior John O’Shea.

After a weekend filled with fun workshops, an amazing All-State performance of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” and a final performance of “Of Mice and Men,” Theater Fest did not disappoint.

But as one door closes, another one will open, and behind it is the Tracy Jenkins original play planned for Spring 2017, Project Prom!