Students attend Texas Thespian Festival, 13 qualify for nationals

The Midlothian High School and Heritage High School Theatre programs attended the Texas Thespian State Festival and Competition during the Thanksgiving break. More than 8,000 students from across the state attended and competed at this event. Students logged more than 1,300 workshop hours with guest artists from the industry, including workshops like Fosse Dance, Storytelling through Movement, Voice Acting for Film, Broadway Dance intensives, Audition Prep, Sound Design, Intro to filmmaking, Stage Management, Vocal Technique for Musical Theatre, Stage Combat, Performance Anxiety Management, Fight Choreography, and Makeup Design. 

In addition to attending learning sessions, students competed in various events. 

• HHS students Sophia Manna and Kacie Endsley received perfect scores and mainstage callbacks 

• HHS student Kate Phillips qualified for Nationals in Sound Design

• HHS student Lainey Wolf qualified for Nationals in Stage Management

• HHS student Elizabeth Hare qualified for Nationals in Costume Construction

• HHS students Madeleine Nabinger and Chloe Turk qualified for Nationals in Duet Musical

• HHS students Peyton Anderson, Sophia Manna and Kacie Endsley qualified for Nationals in Solo Musical 

• MHS students Katie Parker and Olivia Leath were selected to audition for Solo Musical performance slots at the closing ceremonies

• MHS students Gabi Anderson, Gretta Gardner, Ainsley Denoy, Leslie English and Elise Crumpton advanced to Round 3 in Improv Challenge

• MHS students Elizabeth Valle, Olivia Leath, and Katie Parker qualified for Nationals in Solo Musical

• MHS students Gabrielle Rollins, Audrey Chase, and Gabi Anderson qualified for Nationals in Monologue

HHS and MHS junior and senior students had the opportunity to audition for colleges prior to attending the State Festival and colleges held callback audition interviews during the state competition. The following students received Callback Audition Interviews:

Juniors:

• Zachary Cardenas, MHS - 13 colleges
• Elizabeth Valle, MHS - 13 colleges
• Olivia Leath, MHS - 13 colleges
• Josh Wilkins, MHS - 11 colleges

Seniors:

• Gabrielle Rollins, MHS - 30 colleges
• Audrey Chase, MHS - 27 colleges
• Kacie Endsley, HHS - 22 college callbacks
• Thomas Castleberry, HHS - 16 college callbacks 

HHS senior Thomas Castleberry signed with Stephen F. Austin State University.