Baker places first at UIL Theatrical Design contest

  • Pictured are, left to right, Gracie Baker, Maddie Collins and Layne Barnick.
    Pictured are, left to right, Gracie Baker, Maddie Collins and Layne Barnick.

    Three Shiner High School students participated in the UIL Theatrical Design Contest held recently. 
    Senior Gracie Baker is the 2026 State Champion in Marketing Design. She is the first student from Shiner to win top honors in Theatrical Design. She plans to attend college for Theatre Communications and Marketing, and this contest has set her in motion for a successful career in the field.
    Junior Madeline Collins won 6th place in Costume Design. This was Maddie’s second appearance at state in this contest, winning 5th place last year.
    Junior Layne Barnick finished in the Top 15 in Costume Design. This was her first time in this contest and is excited about next year.
    The UIL Theatrical Design contest is a creative competition where high school students conceptualize and design the visual elements for a specific play or musical selected by the league each year. Participants tackle four distinct categories: Set, Costume, Hair and Makeup and Marketing.
    This year, the students were tasked with designing for the play “The King Stag,” adapted from Carlos Gozzi’s Il Re Cervo by Eberle Thomas and Barbara Redmond, published by Concord Theatricals.
    Each entry must consist of Design Plates: visual renderings, sketches, or scale models of their chosen designs; Justification Paper: a 750 word essay explaining the creative choices, historical research, and thematic relevance of their designs; and Inspiration Board: to show the judges the creative journey that led to the design. 
    Some contests, like Marketing, must include Promotional Items such as programs, posters, and physical items that boost ticket sales. By the time these students have gone to state, they will have worked almost an entire school year on the designs, reworking them at each stage.
    Because Shiner is 2A, they compete in the combined conference 1-3A division. Shiner entered three individual designs this year, two in Costume Design, and one in Marketing Design. The first two rounds are viewed as a digital submission. All three designs scored 1-Exemplary and made it on to the state level.
    At State, the designs must be physically plated and displayed at a gallery for the public and live judging. Contestants must stand in front of their judge to present and defend their design choices. Judges are professionals in each of the respective industries of designs.
    “In my career as a TD coach, I have entered 13 student designs. 12 designs have made it to the state level. Seven have medaled. And now, one state champion,” said Lauren Selzer, UIL Academic Coordinator.