FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seattle, WA — Improviser, actor, and educator Alan Hawkins has been confirmed as a workshop instructor for the 2026 Washington State Thespian Festival, taking place March 12–13, 2026, at the Seattle Convention Center. Hawkins will lead his Improvising in the Style of Shakespeare workshops for theatre participants who are high school students, with sessions also open to attending educators.
The Washington State Thespian Festival brings together theatre students and teachers from across Washington State for two days of clinics, workshops, and performances led by local and national instructors. Students have the opportunity to both perform and watch performances by peers from schools throughout the state. Participation is open to any high school student, regardless of thespian membership or regional qualification.
Hawkins’ workshops explore Shakespeare’s heightened language, emotional clarity, and relationship-driven storytelling as tools for improvisation and acting. Students will work with character creation, status, rhythm, and ensemble awareness while learning how Shakespearean principles strengthen confidence, presence, and expressive range onstage.
Festival organizers noted that Hawkins’ workshops strongly complement the educational goals of the festival, offering meaningful and engaging experiences for both students and teachers. Additional scheduling and logistical coordination will be handled by the festival’s volunteer leadership team.
Hawkins has been teaching theatre and improvisation since 2004 and is the author of You Can’t Learn Improv from a Book, a classroom-focused resource for drama educators. His teaching emphasizes experiential learning, emotional honesty, and listening, helping students grow through play, connection, and discovery.
The 2026 Washington State Thespian Festival will feature a wide range of performances and educational opportunities designed to celebrate and support high school theatre across the state.