HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2017-4621, by Representatives Kraft, Harris, and Pike

WHEREAS, Each summer, Edinburgh is awash with performers pursuing their dreams of stardom: Mime artists and ukulele players, contemporary Russian dancers and comedians, and, perhaps most incongruously of all, hundreds of American high school students; and

WHEREAS, The Battle Ground High School drama club received a coveted spot performing at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest performing arts festival; and

WHEREAS, The American High School Theatre Festival, a one-of-a-kind theatre opportunity, runs in conjunction with the world's largest performing arts festival, the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe; and

WHEREAS, Accepted theatre groups spend a total of two weeks in the UK, performing their own production, attending Fringe shows, and touring Scotland and England; and

WHEREAS, Out of the 3,000 high schools in North America nominated by a professional academic in the theater world, only 40 of the top schools are selected to participate; and

WHEREAS, The students will travel to London first, then to Edinburgh in August 2017; and

WHEREAS, In Edinburgh, Scotland they will perform "Almost, Maine," their winter show, which opened in February; and

WHEREAS, They will be featured among more than 50,000 performances, more than 3,000 shows, and in nearly 300 venues across the city; and

WHEREAS, The drama club is in their fourth year as a program; and

WHEREAS, They currently present three performances a year, including a musical and a play by William Shakespeare in alternating years; and

WHEREAS, In order to be an official member of the drama club, a student must be involved in at least one production during a school year, either as a cast member or as a member of the crew (lights, sound, stage crew, hair and make-up, set construction); and

WHEREAS, The club is dedicated to the belief that all students are to be accepted, regardless of who they are or what they believe; and

WHEREAS, The club is a completely welcoming family; a group that does not judge anyone and accepts everyone; and

WHEREAS, The Battle Ground drama club seeks to create a safe space for anyone who feels that they do not quite fit in anywhere else, but knows they would fit in with the drama club family;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives recognize that the Battle Ground High School drama club was selected to perform at this prestigious festival and honor the work and mission of the drama club; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the members of the Battle Ground High School drama club and its faculty.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

Resolution 4621 adopted by the House of Representatives