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Weaver Academy theater students are the only representatives from North Carolina chosen to attend the 2010 Fringe Festival in Scotland.

An international theater event attracting thousands of performers and audience members from around the world, the festival will give Weaver students the opportunity to be treated to tours, master classes and theater events in London and Scotland.

“It’s an amazing opportunity not just to witness but to be a part of an international community of theater artists,” said Keith Taylor, director of theater at Weaver.

Rising junior Halle Sinnott , who said she would love to pursue a career in acting, agreed.

“It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an unbelievable opportunity,” Halle said. “I hope to gain the knowledge and experience of different types of theater from around the world.”

The challenge now is for Halle and her peers to raise enough money to pay the $5,000 required per student.

The American High School Theatre Festival, which organizes the trip, will help the school with fundraising ideas and support, but the school is looking for other creative fundraising ideas.

“We are already under way in considering how to make this trip affordable for our students,” Taylor said.

Out of the 50 “theater majors” eligible to attend, Taylor said he expects about 25 to go.

Taylor said they are seeking grants, corporate sponsors, benefactors and fundraising opportunities. They will have about a year to raise money for the trip, which is Aug. 14-27, 2010.

Nominated by UNCG theater professors, Weaver underwent a rigorous screening process to be selected.

“Too often we take for granted what a wonderful opportunity Guilford County has provided in creating the full-time arts school at Weaver,” Taylor said. “It’s been great to receive national attention and public applause for our program here, and we’re still just toddlers — in our sixth year .”

Weaver had to submit materials about their program, educational/training philosophies, course descriptions, production samples and information on community involvement.

“In particular, much of our documentation referenced our production of “I Never Sang for My Father ,” our fall production that received wonderful reviews in the community, at the North Carolina Theater Conference competition and then again as we restaged the production at the Broach as a fundraiser for Friends of Gateway ,” Taylor said.

Taylor hopes students come away from the festival with a renewed love and passion for their art, recognition of the large community of artists around the world, lessons from other theater artists, exposure to a wide variety of theater not available in their backyard and a bigger sense of the opportunities available to them.

“This is going to be great for their resume, as the college and professional theater world recognizes the value of such experiences,” Taylor said. “I trust the students will come away excited about their futures in the arts.”

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown@news-record.com.