For Pahrump Valley High School incoming senior Luigi DeAngelis, the summer of 2025 wasn’t just a break from school—it was the culmination of years of passion, performance, and preparation. Thanks to overwhelming support from the Pahrump community, Luigi had the opportunity to attend the prestigious International Thespian Festival (ITF) at Indiana University Bloomington, where he spent a week fully immersed in the art and magic of theater.
The adventure began before he even stepped foot on campus. “We decided to get there a day early, and that was absolutely a genius idea,” Luigi said. “There was a three-hour time difference from Nevada, and that first night was rough. But after that, I was getting up at 7 a.m. every day—which was 4 a.m. back home. It totally saved the trip.”
Upon arrival, Luigi and his group—including his mom and PVHS Theatre Director Dr. Duvall—took a shuttle to the university, where they checked into the dorms and began exploring the enormous campus. Though the first night’s meals were not included in the plan, Luigi quickly found the premium meal plan worth every cent. “They fed us three meals a day, and it was amazing,” he said. “For breakfast, they had eggs, meat, potatoes like hashbrowns or tater tots, biscuits and gravy, and even a cereal bar. Lunch and dinner had sandwiches, pasta, and pizza—something for everyone.”
But the food, as good as it was, wasn’t the main attraction. From the moment the festival officially kicked off, Luigi’s days were jam-packed with workshops, performances, competitions, and new friendships. “There couldn’t have been a bigger variety of theater-related activities,” he said. “There were workshops on acting, dancing, singing, tech, college prep—you name it. They even made a custom app for the week, so you could plan your whole schedule every day. It was so helpful.”
Among his favorite workshops was one led by a former producer from Gilmore Girls and Golden Girls, who guided students through a mock sitcom audition. “That was such a cool experience,” Luigi said. “Sitcom acting is what I want to do—I want to be on TV someday. So learning from someone who worked in that field? Unreal.”
Another standout was a Shakespearean masterclass on Friday, the last day of workshops. “We broke down monologues using color-coded strategies, and it really helped me rethink how to connect with the material,” he said. “I had already finished competing, and that class helped me reset and refocus to prepare for future competitions.”
Luigi had traveled to ITF not only to grow as an actor but also to compete in the Individual Event (IE) monologue category. His goal was to build on the superior score he’d earned earlier in the year. “I went in with an average of 21, but I scored a 16.67 at ITF,” he said. “It stung at first, but I realized—it’s the top level of competition in the country. The judging is tougher. You’re being evaluated by professionals, and that’s part of the process.”
During the in-person competition, Luigi performed for a panel of judges in a room with about 16 other competitors. “I was the third person to go. I felt pretty good about my performance, but watching the others was inspiring. They were amazing. It reminded me why I love theater,” he said. “I learned so much just from being in that room.”
Luigi also learned the importance of consistency and preparation. “There was a big stretch of time where I hadn’t been practicing much. I think that hurt my performance,” he admitted. “But now I know: if you’re eligible to go, don’t stop doing what got you there. Acting is a skill—you have to keep it sharp.”
In addition to workshops and competition, Luigi took full advantage of the festival’s performance schedule. He attended multiple main stage shows, one-acts, and even short films. Some performances were planned; others, he gained access to by waiting in lines for returned or unclaimed tickets—a common festival practice.
“I almost didn’t go see The Prince of Egypt,” he said. “But my friends convinced me, and I’m so glad they did. It changed the course of the whole week. It was incredible—so powerful and beautifully staged.”
From that point on, Luigi made it his mission to see as many shows as possible. He caught Little Women, performed brilliantly by a high school troupe; Sweet Surrender, a comedy about two feuding divas booked in the same hotel suite (“One of my favorites—it had a real dog and a brilliant quick-swap gag with a fake one!”); and The Revolutionists, a more serious and polarizing play. “That one wasn’t really my thing,” Luigi said, “but I still appreciated the performances. Not every show is for every person.”
Another highlight came at the Mcnutt dining hall, where Luigi took part in an impromptu lunchtime singalong at the piano. “I didn’t want to just play for people—I wanted to get everyone involved. It turned into this amazing moment with kids from all over singing Bruno Mars together. That kind of connection is what theater is all about.”
The friendships Luigi formed over the week were some of the most meaningful parts of the trip. At the first-timers’ welcome event, he met six other students from across the U.S.—twins from Colorado, a student from Washington, one from Oregon, and another from Northern Virginia. “We clicked instantly. We created a group chat called ‘ITF’ and stayed connected all week. We went to shows together, supported each other, and became best friends in just a few days.”
Those friendships also helped Luigi cope with a powerful mix of emotions throughout the week. “At one point, I was feeling overwhelmed,” he said. “I was putting a lot of pressure on myself because the town raised so much money for me. I felt like I had to do everything, attend every workshop. But my friends reminded me: they didn’t raise money for me to stress out. They raised money so I could have this experience. That really helped.”
The campus itself added to the experience. “Indiana University Bloomington is huge—beautiful, but super hilly,” he said. “There were shuttles, but most people just walked everywhere. It made every destination feel like a journey, and I saw so much of the campus that way.”
Dr. Duvall and Luigi’s mom also made the most of their time. Dr. Duvall attended workshops, including one led by a fellow Nevada educator, and took notes on how to enhance PVHS’s theater program. “They were always supportive,” Luigi said. “My mom didn’t go to workshops by herself, so if she wasn’t with me she went on long walks or chilled in the dorm. And she and Dr. Duvall became really good friends, which I loved.”
On Friday night, the closing ceremony brought the week to a joyful, emotional end. “We saw standout performances in all categories—musical duets, solos, dancing, tech design. It was the perfect way to wrap things up,” he said. He also witnessed one of his new friends receive a Thespy Award—an honor given to top-performing students. “She got three perfect 20s in solo acting. It was incredible to see her recognized.”
The final takeaway for Luigi wasn’t just artistic—it was deeply human. “Everyone there was so kind, supportive, and passionate,” he said. “I’ve never been in an environment where complete strangers would just start talking to you on the bus and instantly connect. We were all there for the same reason: to grow, to perform, to belong. It was a different kind of community.”
When asked what he’d like to say to those who helped him get there, Luigi paused before offering heartfelt words:
“I don’t think there’s enough thank-yous in the world for how grateful I am. I’m absolutely overjoyed that I got to go. It was life-changing. I genuinely felt so cared for. And I know theater doesn’t always get the spotlight, especially in small towns where sports are the focus—but everyone who helped me proved that the arts matter. And I’ll never forget that.”
As Luigi prepares for his senior year at Pahrump Valley High School, he returns with renewed purpose, stronger skills, and stories to share with his peers. And thanks to a generous, supportive community, his dream week at ITF was just the beginning.
