Students from La Plata, Henry E. Lackey, Maurice J. McDonough and St. Charles high schools attended the Maryland Thespian Festival Feb. 25 and 26.
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students competed against their peers from more than 40 Maryland high schools in acting, musical theater and technical theater competitions. The festival, held at The Gordon Center in Owing Mills, included a one-act festival, individual event competitions and college auditions. Industry leaders taught workshops on stage combat, papier-mâché mask making and puppetry. A Broadway Bootcamp and a vocal masterclass were also held.
Several CCPS students earned accolades and awards at the festival. Three students earned superior rankings and will advance to the national competition this summer near Indianapolis. Melanie Hall, a senior at Maurice J. McDonough High School, was awarded for stage management; Rebecca White, a McDonough senior, was honored for solo musical theater; and White and Annie Sullivan, a McDonough junior, earned a trip to Indiana for their performance in the duet musical theater category.
Other CCPS students honored at the festival include:
Distinguished Senior Award
Melanie Hall, McDonough.
Jackson Saunders, senior, La Plata High School.
All State Thespian
Melanie Hall, McDonough.
Rebecca White, McDonough.
Annie Sullivan, McDonough.
Laila Holloway, sophomore, McDonough.
Alayna Steinmetz, junior, McDonough.
Samuel Chernoff, senior, McDonough
Gabriella Meshesha, senior, McDonough.
Skylar Belisle, junior, McDonough.
Speed Charades
St Charles High School, second place.
The International Thespian Festival is set for June 20 to 24 at Indiana University and hosted by the Educational Theatre Association.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).