WestFest—a two-day, student devised and led interdisciplinary arts show—debuted in January as a massive celebration of the arts at Westridge.

Born of a student push toward sharing more of their formal work on their own terms (and ultimately a formal proposal from Isa Hechter '26), the festival featured works from 100-plus students and alumnae, more than half of which were collaborative projects. Attendees were teated to theatre, film, visual arts, comedy, music, and performance art as well as interactive sessions in which they could participate.

"[The students] showed up in a different way than they do when fulfilling assignments," said Art Department Chair David Prince, explaining that students learn best when they are personally invested and speaking directly to their peers.

The following excerpts are from conversations with Isa Hechter ’26, Theatre Department Chair Brandon Kruhm, and Art Department Chair David Prince about why this is a uniquely Westridge event, the importance of it being led almost entirely by students, and Hechter’s advice for future WestFest student contributors.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What makes WestFest a quintessential Westridge event? 

Hechter: I think it very much ties into Westridge's message of empowering young girls. The fact that we specifically created an event that basically says, OK, you are transitioning to adulthood, take the stage, take the mantle, and go forth and create. I think that's pretty Westridge.

I also think it just felt so intimate. What defines Westridge at its core is the community … that it is a very community-run place. And WestFest banks on the fact that people are willing to participate in the same way as Town Meeting. [It’s] very much pushing students—young girls, especially—to put themselves out there, to be confident, to submit work that's inherently vulnerable or maybe a piece of themselves to the wider world, and to have people see it.

Prince: That it was student-led, that the students really took ownership of the event. [They] submitted work that was personally significant—sometimes more "real" than what they might undertake in a more academic venue like the classroom, though much of the work was also serious. But juniors Lauren L. and Grace F.'s project was a great example*: it was silly but also ambitious and genuinely unique and creative.

*The duo's project involved a Santa Claus photo op for WestFest attendees, complete with elves in character and a quartet playing Christmas music. These elements all tied to the WestFest theme "Departures," as Santa was at a "sleigh top bench" waiting to depart California after the holidays.

Kruhm: I also think of Westridge as a place where students love supporting each other, and this event gives them a unique opportunity to celebrate each other's work.

Why is this event important now? 

Hechter: You know, you had to be at the live performances. It wasn’t filmed. There are things that can't be replicated online…when we get caught up in the online, the doom scrolling, and the constant barrage of horrible, horrible news, it's easy to turn off. And I think WestFest is so important because it became like a third space on campus. I saw an alum come back, and that was so beautiful to know that the Westridge community exists beyond graduation. Just [to be there) supporting friends, and walking through all the different events, and seeing these live performances that are so ephemeral, but stick with you—it strengthens our community, and it reminds us that even though there may be so much going on [in the world), if we can focus on actionable depth towards community, there is progress to be made, and progress must be made that way.

Kruhm: I think it is important that this event affords opportunities for students to take risks and showcase work (both content and form) that may not have a place in our standard curriculum or production seasons.

The interdisciplinary programming and student-led nature of the event align with some of the tenets of Westridge Advanced Courses and the type of deeper learning we have been engaging in at Westridge for some time. How did they play into your thinking about this? 

Prince: I think it's the primary aspiration for WestFest — to give students a venue for playing/experimenting creatively in conversation with their peers, without so much oversight and direction from adults. Students learn the most when they are personally invested and speaking directly to their peers. They showed up in a different way than they do when fulfilling an assignment. Also, sharing creative pursuits from a range of disciplines in one event helps students recognize art more broadly as a vehicle for expression; they can see the similarities and differences and between what they might be exploring as a painter and what a friend might be doing on the stage.

Kruhm: I'd agree that interdisciplinary and student-led are the main goals. The higher-level thinking and deeper learning are almost sneaky...but another goal is for students to see this as maybe more "fun," even though what they're doing is quite advanced! We didn't necessarily set out to create this great learning opportunity. We saw a student push toward sharing work they were excited about on their own terms and needed to create a venue for that expression!

What is the most important thing about this event? What did it add to students' experience at Westridge? To the community? 

Prince: An opportunity for students to take ownership of their creative voice.

Kruhm: Much like David [Prince] said, to me, the most important thing was to create more opportunities for student expression on their own terms. What we got was a massive celebration of all the art forms happening on campus. We had theatre, music, dance, film, spoken word, and visual art of all kinds. Our production season and our curriculum in all three disciplines don't necessarily allow for all students to express their talents all the time, try as we might. And this certainly doesn't solve the problem all the way, but it closes the gap. 

Were the student works created specifically for the show? 

Kruhm: I'd say approximately 75-80% of the work was created specifically for this [show].

What were the most important outcomes or learning to come out of WestFest?

Kruhm: The students in my Theatre Production class, who did a fair amount of the heavy lifting on festival logistics, were very proud of the learning they did around producing an event. They were really running their own mini nonprofit office!

Hechter: I remember Mr. Kruhm saying that it’s sort of the mission of WestFest to showcase work that may not be completely done yet. And that's okay…You know, put something out there that can be experimental, because sometimes limiting yourself to producing your “perfect work” can be limiting in terms of what you explore. Because if you want to create your best work, then you [might] stick within what you know you can do the best. Exploring something I’ve never done before may not be my best work, because this is, like, my 2nd time ever doing this, but it's a learning experience.

Why is it important that the event is student-led?

Hechter: It not only gives more creativity, but it also gives more leeway. WestFest had such a playful energy just because of the work it was showing and the people who were running it. Students were welcoming people in, and there was a whole theme [we came up with]. It also bolstered skills that you need in the real world … It forced us to step up and figure out logistical things and impose our own deadlines. It really does teach students how to manage their own projects, especially if they're going into a creative industry.

What would you say to the folks participating in WestFest year two?

Hechter: Be fearless in the pursuit of your own voice because it will lead you to a place where you can refine and affirm your sense of self through art. I think WestFest is the perfect place to do that because it is such a supportive place. So just run wild—do something completely outlandish. Like, make a Santa costume and dress up as creepy Santa and take pictures of people [Ed. note: This is a reference to an interactive performance in WestFest 2026]. Do something crazy that people will gawk at, or that will make people say, “I don't understand it.” WestFest is the perfect playground, so shoot for the moon and don’t be afraid.