Events:

 Troupe Accomplishments:

See green months for Performing Arts Academy news!

January 2019: Troupe #2847 received 3rd place in our division competing with our one-act In The Forests of The Night by Del Martin.

January 2019: Judge's choice actor went to Paige Jordan (Sophomore) at the VHSL One-Act Festival at Gloucester High School. 

February 2019: Troupe #2847 received awards for Outstanding Vocal Work and Execution of Theme for their ITFOTN performance at the VA Thespian Conference. Read more here.

February 2019: Olivera Darden (Sophomore) and Antonio Rosario (Sophomore) were recognized as Outstanding Actors in their show In The Forests Of The Night at the VA Thespian Conference.

February 2019: Olivera Darden (Sophomore) received a superior rating for her Individual Events (Musical Theatre Solo, Monologue) at the VA Thespian Festival and qualified to compete at the International Level. 

April 2019: Dymond Avery (Junior) and Olivera Darden (Sophomore) were selected as the STO of Hospitality and the STO Vice Chair (east), respectively, for the 2019-2020 school year. 

May 2019: "Best Thespian" went to Dymond Avery (Junior) at our first ever Thespy Awards. 

June 2019: Performing Arts Academy students adapted local authors' children's books to stage plays. Read more here.

June 2019: Olivera Darden (Sophomore) became the first student president of the Kecoughtan High School Theatre Department.

January 2020: Troupe #2847 received an award for their Execution of Theme for their performance of The Lottery at the VA Thespian Festival. 

January 2020: Troupe #2847 performed Trap as the Saturday Mainstage at the VA Thespian Festival! 

January 2020: Olivera Darden (Junior) and Madison (Mercury) Pitzer (Sophomore) were recognized as Stand-Out Performers in their one-act The Lottery at the VA Thespian Festival.

January 2020: The following Kecoughtan Thespians received superior ratings in their Individual Events and qualified to compete at the International Level: Olivera Darden (Junior), Antonio Rosario (Sophomore; Monologue); Ayanna Gonzalez & Antonio Rosario (Duet Acting); Olivera Darden, Nara Hughes (Senior; Solo Musical Theatre). Nara was additionally selected for IE showcase callbacks. 

January 2020: Dymond Avery (senior) was awarded the Theatre Education Scholarship at the VA Thespian Festival. 

May 2020: "Best Thespian" went to Olivera Darden (Junior) at our second annual Thespy Awards. 

July 2020: Olivera Darden (Senior) was selected as STO Co-Chair for the 2020-2021 school year. 

June 2021: Performing Arts Academy senior JaVaughn Davis (Senior) was selected as an Outstanding Performance winner of the Hamilton Education Program Online competition. Read more here. 

June 2021: Kecoughtan Theatre Director Mrs. Bourne received an HCS Technology Leadership Award for her guidance and hard work in the land of Zoom theatre. Read more here.

June 2021: "Best Thespian" went to Olivera Darden (Senior) at our third annual Thespy Awards.

June 2021: Madison (Mercury) Pitzer (Junior) became the second student, and first non-binary, president of the Kecoughtan High School Theatre Department.

June 2021: The inaugural Performing Arts Academy class graduated at the Hampton Coliseum on 6/19/21.

August 2021: Jonathan Aspin (Junior) and Madison (Mercury) Pitzer (Senior) were selected as STO Vice Chair (East) and STO Ambassador, respectively, for the 2021-2022 school year.

January 2022: Madison (Mercury) Pitzer (Senior), Niarra Bell (Junior), and Joshua Cunnison (Sophomore), were chosen to perform in the All-State Dance Number of "Superstar" from Jesus Christ Superstar which was conducted by guest speaker Micheala Diamond at the Virginia Thespian Festival 2022.

January 2022: Troupe #2847 received an award of  Best Storytelling for their performance of Flowers for Algernon at the VA Thespian Festival. 

January 2022: Madison (Mercury) Pitzer (senior) was awarded the Dramaturgy/Playwriting Scholarship at the VA Thespian Festival. 

January 2022: Joshua Cunnison (Sophomore) and Christopher O'Keefe  (Sophomore) were recognized as Stand-Out Performers in their one-act Flowers for Algernon at the VA Thespian Festival.

January 2022: Niarra Bell (Solo Acting) and Jonathan Aspin (Solo Acting) received SUPERIOR ratings at the 2022 VA Thespian Festival and now qualify to compete at the International Thespian Festival in Indiana, in June 2022.

February 2022: Joshua Cunnison (Sophomore) was awarded "Best Actor" for his performance in Flowers for Algernon at both the VHSL One-Act Festival and the VHSL Super Regional competition.

June 2022: "Best Thespian" went to Niarra Bell (Junior) at our fourth annual Thespy Awards.

June 2022: Jonathan Aspin (Junior) became the third student president of the Kecoughtan High School Theatre Department.

June 2022: The inaugural Performing Arts Academy class graduated at the Hampton Coliseum on 6/16/22.

August 2022: Jonathan Aspin (Senior), Niarra Bell (Senior), Rhonda Chrisp (Senior), and Joshua Cunnison (Junior) were named as Virginia Thespian Officer: STO Co-chair, STO Ambassador, RTO East, and STO Vice Chair respectively.

January 2023: Niarra Bell (Solo Acting), Jonathan Aspin (Solo Acting), and Natalee Harris (Solo Dance) all recieved superior ratings at Virginia Thespian Festival and now qualify to perform at International Thespian Festival in Indiana, in June 2023

January 2023: Piper Gilly (Sophmore), Madison Newton (Sophmore), and Christopher O'Keefe (Senior) were all awarded Stand Out performer awards at Virginia Thespian Festival.

January 2023: Shea Tatum (Junior) was awarded Outstanding Actor at Virginia Thespian Festival.

March 2023: Joshua Cunnison (Junior), Madison Newton (Sophmore), and Piper Gilly (Sophmore) were named as Virginia Thespian Officer: STO Co-chair East/West, STO Communications Co-chair, and STO Admin respectively. 

June 2023: Niarra Bell (Senior) was awarded "Best Thespian" at the fifth annual Thespy Awards.

June 2023: Joshua Cunnison (Junior) became the fourth student president of the Kecoughtan High School Theatre Department.

June 2023: Joshua Cunnison (Junior) was elected as an International Thespian Officer for 2023-24 at International Thespian Festival in Indiana.

June 2023: Niarra Bell (Solo Acting) and Jonathan Aspin (Solo Acting) both were awarded Superior ratings at the International Thespian Festival.

June 2023: Niarra Bell (Solo Acting) got a perfect score and recieved a "Thespy Award" at International Thespian Festival in Indiana.

June 2023: The inaugural Performing Arts Academy class graduated at the Hampton Coliseum on 6/16/23.

July 2023: Niarra Bell (Senior) wrote one of the top six plays nationally for the ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence project to be performed at the Kennedy Center... Read more 

October 2023: Madison Newton (Junior) was awarded a Best Actor award for her performance in "Click".

October 2023: Sophia Harris (Junior) and Christopher O'Keefe (Alumni) were both awarded a Best Supporting Actor award for their performances in "Click". 

October 2023: Jonathan Apsin (Alumni) was awarded the Best Director award for his directing in "Click". 

October 2023: Riley Brooker (Senior) was awarded the Best Screenplay award for her screen play "Click". 

January 2024: Scott Briggs (Costume Construction), Joshua Cunnison (Solo Acting and Solo Musical Theatre), Piper Gilly and Joshua Cunnison (Duet Musial Theatre), Sophia Harris and Willard Davenport (Duet Musical Theatre), and Abby Driscoll (Stage Management) all recieved superior ratings at Virginia Thespian Festival and now qualify to perform/present at International Thespian Festival in Indiana, in June 2024. 

January 2024: Piper Gilly (Junior) and Wyatt Fatkin (Freshman) were given the All Star Cast award for their performance in the VTF One Act Competition. 

January 2024: Attack! Of the Killer Man From the Sun was awarded the Best Director and Best Ensemble award at the VTF One Act Competition. 

January 2024: Piper Gilly (Junior) and Madison Newton (Junior) were selected to be a part of the all-state cast of a Chorus Line. 

January 2024: Brian Ranger Jr. (Freshman) was awarded Best Actor for his performance in Attack! Of the Killer Man From the Sun at the VHSL Regional and Super-Regional one act festival.

March 2024: Madison Newton (Junior) and Piper Gilly (Junior) were given positions as Virginia Thespian Officers: East Regional Thespian Officer and State Ambassador respectively.

June 2024: Finch McLarney (Senior) was awarded the Niarra Bell (Best Thespian) award at the sixth annual Curtain Call ceremony.

June 2024: Piper Gilly (Junior) became the fifth student president of the Kecoughtan High School Theatre Department.

June 2024: Piper Gilly, Joshua Cunnison (Senior), Sophia Harris (Junior), Willard Davenport (Junior), and Scott Briggs (Junior) were all awarded superiors at the International Thespian Festival. Joshua Cunnison earned superiors for solo acting and solo musical theatre, as well as duet musical theatre with Piper Gilly. Sophia Harris and Willard Davenport earned a superior in duet musical theatre, and Scott Briggs earned a superior in costume construction. 

June 2024: The inaugural Performing Arts Academy Class graduated at the Hampton Coliseum on 6/13/24.