Theatre students from all three McKinney ISD high school campuses put their talent on display alongside more than 3,000 other student performers at the International Thespian Society’s Texas State Festival held in Houston on December 1-3. Representatives from McKinney High School, McKinney North High School and McKinney Boyd High School collected a host of accolades while demonstrating their artistry in a variety of performance and production categories; 29 qualified for this summer’s national competition.
Their success was the result of the tried and true pairing of talent and a diligent work ethic. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication both in and outside of the school day to accomplish what these fine young thespians have,” says Roy Renzenbrink, Director of Fine Arts at McKinney ISD. “This competition requires them to have nerves of steel while being expressive as an actor. It takes many hours of preparation.”
Having qualified for the annual National Thespian Festival, the McKinney ISD performers will travel to the University of Nebraska for a week of auditions, shows and workshops to be held June 25-30, 2012. “It’s a fast-paced and full festival, but it is a fabulous learning experience for the students who attend,” says Jami Sauls, McKinney North High School Director of Theatre.
“McKinney ISD is very proud of the success of these students and the way that they represent their schools and our district,” says Renzenbrink. “We are also very proud of their teachers who put in countless hours of work to make sure their students have everything they need to be successful. It is definitely a team effort.”
The following McKinney ISD theatre students qualified for the National Thespian Festival:
McKinney High School
Katie Miller: “Coram Boy,” 2012 All-State Show Company Member
Katie Miller and Stephanie Quintana: Duet Musical
Rachel Morgani: Stage Management
McKinney North High School
Mackenzie Schulien: Solo Musical (Musical Theatre Scholarship Recipient)
Katie Bishop and Madeleine Tepera: Duet Musical
AJ Laudenslager, Ryan Jurovic, Ashley Stevens, Sierra Miller, Cyan Miller, Kaitlynn Loper, Alexandra Curren: Group Musical
Madalyn Brezina, Caroline Upchurch: Duet Acting
Shelby Gum, Taylor Marshall, Haley Barr, Daniel Holland: Group Acting
Garrett Wilson, Baxter Pitt: Duet Mime
Catie Blencowe: Lighting Design
McKinney Boyd High School
Jon Barnes and Dani Golway: Duet Acting (Jon Barnes: Performance Scholarship Recipient)
Bree Redmond and Amanda Clark: Duet Musical
Ariana Easter: Stage Management
Emma Prendergast: Solo Musical (Theatre Education Scholarship Recipient)
Megan Wiley: Monologue
The McKinney ISD high school theatre departments are directed by Denise Tooch (McKinney High School), Jami Sauls (McKinney North High School) and Vicki Kirkley (McKinney Boyd High School).
