2025 State Thespian Conference
Core Memories Made from the 2025 State Thespian Conference:
The 2025 State Thespian Conference at Avon High School was an unforgettable experience, and this year, it was bigger and better than ever. With over 1200 theatre students and educators from nearly 40 schools across Indiana gather on Friday January 24-26th. The conference was packed with workshops, performances, and, of course, the thrill of competition. Our group of 27 students and 9 adults couldn’t have been more excited to take part in this annual theatre tradition, and with a little bit of luck, a dash of chaos, and plenty of hard work, we came home with Core Memories—and a few extra awards—to last a lifetime.
Distinguished Senior: Honoring Evelyn Skaggs
We honored Evelyn Skaggs with the Distinguished Senior Award for her outstanding leadership and dedication. Evelyn has consistently demonstrated a quiet strength and unwavering commitment to excellence. Her ability to lead with humility, listening and supporting others, sets her apart as a true role model. Evelyn’s contributions, both on and off the stage, have made a lasting impact. Her compassion and integrity give us confidence that the future will be shaped by individuals like her.
Team Gerald's First Tech Challenge Experience
Team Gerald, led by captain Norah Skaggs and teammates Abby Kaucher and youngest competitor Norah Rhoad, competed for the first time in the Tech Challenge. They tackled events like Knot Tying, Hang & Focus a Light, Prop Shift, and Leg a Platform. Though they didn’t bring home awards, the experience was invaluable. The team learned a great deal, gaining new skills and insights to refine for next year’s competition. It was a strong start with much to build on.
Best in Show Moments
Despite the hiccups with a technical hiccup, we ended up with three Best in Show awards—one more than we brought home last year! It was a true testament to our students' talent, hard work, and perseverance.
Middle School Acting - FrankenBro: Asher Ortman, Malcom Lubinski, and Orion Cortez brought their A-game to this quirky and energetic scene. Their commitment to their characters was palpable, and it was evident the judges agreed.
Group Acting - Murder Most Foul: Zoe Lowe, Audrey Kolterman, Timothy Kolterman, Isaiah Owens, and Judah Owens brought their murder mystery to life with a high-energy, comedic performance. The fact that they had to adapt on the fly due to an unexpected challenge—Zach Kolterman getting sick and having to leave the conference on Saturday morning—made their achievement even sweeter. Despite the chaos, they delivered a stellar performance, taking home the coveted Best in Show for Group Acting.
Musical Duet - Three Little Words: Brynn Dunlap & Isaiah Owens showcased their incredible vocal skills with this beautiful duet, and their chemistry on stage was undeniable.
Recognizing Thespy Awards
While the Best in Show awards were a major highlight, we also had several individual recognitions that made us incredibly proud:
Superior Rankings:
Timothy Kolterman (MS Solo Musical)
Brynn Dunlap (Solo Musical Dance)
Avah Lofis & Audrey Kolterman (Duet Acting)
Julia Jackson (Costume Design)
Excellent Rankings:
Asher Ortman (MS Solo Musical)
Addison White & Orion Cortez (MS Duet Musical)
Zoe Shreve (MS Solo Musical)
Malcom Lubinski (MS Solo Musical)
Avah Loftis (Solo Musical)
Evelyn Skaggs (Solo Musical)
Norah Skaggs & Ade Shreve (Duet Acting)
Zoe Lowe (Solo Musical)
Zach Kolterman (Solo Musical)
Ade Shreve, Zoe Shreve, Eliza Osborn (Group Musical)
Good Rankings
Julia Jackson (Solo Acting)
Rising Stars: College Auditions & Scholarships
We’re also thrilled to share that four of our students—Ade Shreve, Evelyn Skaggs, Isaiah Owens, and Zoe Lowe—auditioned for college scholarships and were met with great success. They received multiple callbacks and even some offers. Watching our students take that leap into the next phase of their theatre journey was inspiring and a huge milestone for our program.
Norah Skaggs: A State Thespian Officer
In other exciting news, Norah Skaggs applied to be a State Thespian Officer for the 2025/2026 school year—and she was accepted! This is an incredible honor and a testament to her leadership, passion for theatre, and commitment to the Thespian community. We couldn’t be prouder to see one of our own take on such a significant role.
A Milestone Achievement: Our First Honor Troupe
We were thrilled to receive our first-ever Honor Troupe recognition for the 2023/2024 school year! Willa Cortez led the charge by creating an impressive portfolio that showcased everything we accomplished, from productions to community outreach. Our hard work paid off with a well-deserved Bronze Level ranking.
Workshops & Shows: A Weekend of Learning
Throughout the weekend, our students were busy attending a wide variety of workshops, soaking up all the knowledge they could. From prop-making workshops where they molded silicone comedy and tragedy masks, to improv and physical comedy sessions, there was something for everyone. Some students even took part in dance workshops, learning routines from popular Broadway shows.
They also had the opportunity to see performances from other schools, offering them a chance to appreciate the diversity and creativity within the state’s theatre community. The whole experience was jam-packed with inspiration and excitement, leaving everyone exhausted but filled to the brim with new skills and ideas they can bring back to their own productions.
A Weekend of Core Memories
By the end of the conference, we were all tired—physically, emotionally, and creatively—but we were also filled with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for what’s to come. We learned so much, met so many talented young performers, and experienced the magic of theatre in a way that only a conference like this can provide.
As we loaded back into our cars and vans to head home, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for all the Core Memories made, the friendships strengthened, and the countless lessons learned. We’ll be taking everything we’ve learned from this year’s State Thespian Conference with us into the next chapter of our theatre journey—and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
Join Us on Wednesday, Feb 19 6-8p at Arts for Lawrence for our Monthly Meeting.
Special Guest Disney Entertainment Performer, Drew Stafford.
