LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) - Performing on an international stage is kind of a big deal. It's even more significant when you're the first school of your kind to score the honor. Mercy Academy's Theatre Department is heading overseas this summer for the opportunity of a lifetime.
"The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland is the world's largest international theater festival,” Mercy Academy Theatre Director Amanda Simmons said.
Only 44 American high schools are on this summer's roster. Mercy Academy is the only private and all-girl school in Kentucky to ever go.
"It's unbelievable,” junior Alex Shugart said. “Ms. Simmons had actually pretended like we were in trouble and that she was going to tell us something. I was really scared because I didn't know what I did this time, but she said that we were going to Scotland and everyone was crying and it was just really exciting.”
The girls aren't just packing any play. They're writing their own.
“Each of us are going to write a part of the play and do some research on it. Then, we’re going to have a playwright come in and help us put it together,” junior Taylor Hord said.
"We're going to title it Mercy Me, and it's going to be about the life of Catherine McAuley,” Shugart said. “We have to work on blocking, character development, and how we can accurately portray the sisters.”
She's founded the Sisters of Mercy, the same order who started Mercy Academy.
"It's a great chance for us to get our name out in the world and show everybody what the Sisters of Mercy really are,” Hord said.
“It’ll just be theater all day, every day,” Shugart said. “The Sisters of Mercy are timeless.”
With just a few months left until the show's debut, the girls are rehearsing constantly and getting ready to share their story on their most significant stage yet.
"It changed my life, and I've done theater all of my life from high school on. So, I can't imagine what it's going to do to these students,” Simmons said. “Our theatre is now nationally and internationally recognized, which is kind of crazy and amazing that the girls have done that because it’s all about them.”
They will perform the show twice before they leave on July 25 and July 26 at Mercy Academy. You can also see them at the Kentucky Thespian Festival in the fall.
The girls still need to raise about $14,000 for their trip. They are hosting a trivia night on Friday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the school. You can compete as a group of 8 for $120 per table. There are plenty of other options for you to help get them to Scotland. If you’d like to get involved, just email Simmons at asimmons@mercyjaguars.com.