FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Presser Youth Traveling Company Selected to Perform at 2027 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Mexico, Missouri — Students from Presser Arts Center have been selected as an elite performing arts group, officially designated as the Presser Youth Traveling Company, and will perform at the 2027 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. The students will present a fully staged theatrical production in August 2027 as part of the world’s largest performing arts festival.
Director Sara Given was selected by the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) to direct a production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Following her selection, a group of student performers was chosen to form the Presser Youth Traveling Company—an ensemble selected for its artistic excellence, commitment, and ability to represent youth theatre on an international stage.
Founded in 1995 in partnership with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, AHSTF provides select secondary schools, high schools, and community theatre programs the opportunity to perform on professional stages during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Since its beginning in 1947, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has grown into the largest performing arts festival in the world. Each year, more than 6,000 performers from around the globe present over 4,000 performances across all artistic genres during a three-week celebration of creativity and cultural exchange.
In 2027, AHSTF will celebrate its 32nd year of bringing student artists to the international stage. Acceptance into the program is highly selective, with participating groups chosen based on artistic merit, educational value, and their ability to represent youth theatre at a global level.
During their time in Edinburgh, members of the Presser Youth Traveling Company will perform alongside international artists while also participating in workshops, cultural exchanges, and professional theatre experiences that foster artistic growth and global awareness.
“These students have earned this opportunity through their dedication, discipline, and passion for the art of theatre,” said Sara Given, Director. “The Presser Youth Traveling Company represents young artists from across our surrounding communities, and it is an incredible honor for them to share their voices, creativity, and collaborative spirit on an international stage. This experience will shape them not only as performers, but as confident, globally minded individuals.”
Over the next year, the students will engage in fundraising and community outreach efforts to support travel and production expenses, gaining valuable experience in leadership, teamwork, and arts advocacy. Additional information about performances, fundraising initiatives, and ways to support the Presser Youth Traveling Company will be announced in the coming months.
Contact:
Sara Given, Director
Presser Arts Center
📧 sgiven89@gmail.com