A group of Pella High School theater students is traveling to the International Thespian Festival next week.

Drama Teacher Suzi Jones is taking six students to audition for a variety of aspects in the world of theater.

Recent Pella Graduate Mandolin Holmes is competing in the costume design contest. She tells KNIA/KRLS News that costuming is a passion of hers and she was inspired by her trip to last year’s festival for this year’s design, which won at the state festival in November.

“I picked a show, which was Zombie Prom, and then I just designed costumes for that,” she says. “I actually saw Zombie Prom at the last International Thespians Festival, and I was just blown away by how cool everything looked and so I really wanted to try my hand at coming up with interesting visuals.”

The festival takes place at the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus. Hear more from Holmes about her involvement in the festival on Monday’s Let’s Talk Pella.