South Thespians Take Award-Winning Play to Nationals

Feb. 8, 2012 ~ For the third consecutive year, Olathe South High School thespians have been chosen to perform at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Neb. This year they will take "The Bully Plays," under the direction of drama teacher David Hastings.

"I was thrilled to have students from South get picked again for nationals," Hastings said. "I am proud of my students and lucky to have so much talent to work with."

Hastings' nationals-bound troupe includes Rand Anderson, Brooke Bosworth, Jean Cantero, Kenzie Clark, Elizabeth Cook, Nathaniel Greene, Shannon James, Kaelyn Kreicbergs, Jesse Miller, Halle Nick, Kristin Nycklemoe and Jeremy Walterman.

The road to nationals began last fall when the theatre department performed "The Bully Plays" for the public. By December, students in the Repertory Theatre classes were focusing on two parts of that performance — "Send" and "Glorious Gail" — to perform at the Kansas Thespian Conference in early January. That performance earned the highest scores and was chosen as the Chapter Select One-Act from the state; an automatic invitation to act at the International Thespian Festival, June 25-30, in Nebraska.

"The competition at the state level can be tough as there are many great theatre schools around the state," Hastings said. "It was especially rewarding because none of the students who went last year were in this year's group."

The International Thespian Festival includes four stages of high school performances, a student playwriting program, various workshops for teachers and students, and auditions for college admission and thespian scholarships.

(Photo: "The Bully Plays" actors include, from left, Kristin Nycklemoe, Nathaniel Greene, Rand Anderson, Jeremy Walterman, Elizabeth Cook, Shannon James, Kenzie Clark, Jean Cantero, Brooke Bosworth and Kaelyn Kriecbergs. Jesse Miller and Halle Nick are not pictured but were also in the plays.)