A Main Stage Production at ITF 2025
The International Thespian Festival (ITF) Main Stage showcases talented theatre programs and Thespians from around the country as they perform diverse productions ranging from theatre classics to the latest hits on Broadway. Joining that tradition in 2025 is Thespian Troupe 6185 from OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy with their performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition.
Set nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition takes audiences on an entirely new magical journey. When Albus Severus Potter befriends Scorpius Malfoy, their daring plan to change the past propels them into a whirlwind of adventure, testing loyalties, confronting the weight of legacy, and celebrating the enduring power of friendship. This special high school adaptation brings all the spellbinding drama, heart, and excitement of the Wizarding World, in an all-new story sure to enchant lifelong fans and those new to the magic.
EdTA chatted with director A.J. Ciccotelli and technical director Tara Mangano to get a peek behind the curtain.
The Harry Potter franchise is one of the most beloved for kids pretty much everywhere, and licensing has only recently become available for school theatre programs. What was the most exciting thing about being one of the first schools to produce it?
Ciccotelli: Being among the first schools to produce Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition offered an opportunity to bring a fresh, magical experience to our community. These are beloved characters and bringing them to a new audience through a theatrical play was one of the reasons we chose it for our high school season. We recently saw this play in the world premiere at Hoboken High School, and the biggest takeaway was to make the production uniquely ours. The most thrilling aspect was the creative freedom to interpret the familiar characters and narrative in our way, ultimately crafting a distinct vision that resonated with our school’s identity.
Mangano: For me, one of the most exciting things about being one of the first schools to produce this [show] was that we really were able to start with a clean slate. There are no shows to watch online or other ideas to have to work around. This was all us and all our ideas.
This will be the first time your school has performed on the ITF Main Stage. What does it mean for your program and the arts in your school?
Ciccotelli: Performing on the ITF Main Stage is a significant milestone for Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Grunin Performing Arts Academy and the arts within our school. After twenty years of teaching and directing high school theatre and applying for ITF Main Stage only once previously, this selection feels like a culmination of hard-earned growth and development as a theatre arts program and a community. It’s a tremendous honor, validating our program’s evolution and highlighting the importance of the arts in our school community. With this achievement comes a sense of pride and it demonstrates the power of perseverance and artistic pursuits.
Mangano: It’s an unbelievable honor to be able to perform on the ITF Main Stage! Our school strives to give our high school students the knowledge to be career-ready when they leave our halls. I believe that by being chosen to perform, we’re bringing our students one step closer to professional theatre. We’re allowing them to perform on a large stage in front of a humongous audience of colleagues and industry professionals alike.
Was your vision of the show influenced by your decision to have it adjudicated for the ITF Main Stage?
Ciccotelli: The decision to apply for the ITF Main Stage had no influence on the artistic vision of the show. The application was a last-minute consideration, submitted after the design, casting, and production processes were already established. Not to say this hasn’t been the highlight of my teaching and directing experience because it absolutely has. I think we make art that inspires, and if great opportunities happen, then it’s just icing on the cake.
Can you share one behind-the-scenes secret or fun fact about your rehearsal process, set design, or costumes that people wouldn’t otherwise know?
Ciccotelli: A deeply personal and unexpected element of this production was its healing power. The play’s themes of acceptance – between those considered “other” and within parent-child relationships – resonated deeply with my own life. These themes hit upon the complexities of my relationship with my mother, who faced early trauma as an orphan at an early age. It became clear how much we both could have benefited from the play’s message of understanding and empathy. This production became a personal journey of reconciliation that was woven into every scene.
Mangano: Our school does not have its own theatre; we perform at the local college. So we do not get to rehearse on the actual stage and/or with the set until one week before our performance.
Looking back from auditions to now, how have your students grown?
Ciccotelli: My students have grown immensely, not just as skilled performers, but as confident, empathetic, and collaborative young adults. One wise person told me to set the bar high and your students will meet your expectations. It’s my hope that they continue on this journey of curiosity, compassion, and excellence they have achieved from this production.
Mangano: Our students rallied together and became a family. They are all involved with our fundraising and are ready to put in the hard work it takes to get to ITF.
Beyond the usual fundraising and organizational tips, what’s one piece of creative or artistic advice you’d give to groups hoping to reach the ITF Main Stage next year?
Ciccotelli: Make your production the best it can be and don’t hold onto the expectation of getting selected. We had no expectations; we just worked hard at making the narrative clear and the characters alive, and we had a lot of fun while doing it. Strive for a great production, and if you’re chosen, it’s wonderful. If not, no worries; keep growing, learning, and striving for your own personal best. Being accepted is the icing on the cake. Have fun while making the cake – it is truly the best part.
What do you hope the audience takes away from your show, and why is this important to you?
Ciccotelli: I hope the audience leaves with a deeper understanding and acceptance of those who are different from them and, perhaps, a perspective on the complexities of parent-child relationships. Theatre has the ability to create a space for shared experience, allowing us to see ourselves and others in a new light and, perhaps, begin to bridge divides. In this time and place in history, all these things are much needed.
Mangano: I hope the audience sees that friendship is a powerful force. If you rally together with your friends and never give up, anything is possible!
