It was in the middle of summer this year when Kathleen Woods, the drama teacher at the high school, learned that the school had been selected to perform at Edinburgh next year.

"I'm really excited. No one can solicit a nomination," Woods said. She soon found out that a professor at Santa Clara University had recommended Saratoga High.

The next step was to complete a very extensive application process. "We sent them a recent history of the awards that we have won, our drama philosophy and a video tape of some of our recent performances. This included short segments of some of the musicals we have done," Woods said.

The nomination has already generated a steady buzz of excitement around the school though the festival is almost a year away, in July and August next year.

"Auditions have already started. Fundraising will be under way soon," said Woods. Working, a Stephen Schwartz musical about the hopes and aspirations of American workers, has been chosen for the performance. "We'll get to perform for a worldwide audience," said Woods. The logistics involved are a little daunting, Woods admitted. "We'll have to carry everything on the airplane," she said.

If Woods is enthusiastic, her students are positively exuberant.

Sophomore Ted Sclavos, who has been performing in various school plays since the third grade, said he was already making plans for his visit.

"I plan on doing a lot of sightseeing," Ted said. "Of course, we want to do better than other local schools."

Ted said that everyone performing at the festival will gain good experience.

Courtney Nolet, a junior, said she is already nervous about the kind of competition that they are going to face. "The judges are going to look for perfection," she said.

Courtney is the hair and makeup artist for the drama group. "I've learned a lot about makeup in the last few years. It's different from what we do in real life. Everything is exaggerated and has to be visible from far away," she said.

She said taking part in the Fringe will be an enriching experience for her and the group.

"The great thing about the play is that it has no lead part. It is an ensemble. There aren't a whole lot of monologues," Ted said.

For some, the trip to Scotland is excitement enough.

Sage Doshay, a sophomore, said that she had been to England, France, China and Canada. "But I have never been to Scotland," she said. "I know that we're really going to have fun."

The Fringe festival began in 1947 and was essentially an effort to reunite Europe through culture after the devastation and enmity of World War II. In 2001, more than 600 groups from 49 countries performed a staggering 1,462 shows across the city of Edinburgh.

Next year, Saratogans will be proud to say that their local high school is also part of one of the biggest arts festivals in the world.

"We will get to tour the countryside. I'm also going to see dozens of other shows," Woods said.