EHS Theatre made INTERNATIONALS

For the first time in school history, Emporia High Theatre has been invited to perform at the international level in Bloomington, IN. We are one of TWELVE schools that gets the honor of performing at festival, making "A Piece of My Heart" ranked in the top twelve in the nation. Our students will get to perform in front of  thousands of other thespians. To help us fund getting there, please consider donating to our fundraiser, and attend our benefit performance on June 6th at 7pm. This is such an honor and we can not be more grateful for the opportunity. A special thank you to Mr. Frank Lowery and all veterans who have served. May we always all gave some, and some gave all. 

A Piece of My Heart Goes to Kansas Thespian Festival

Our troupe had recently performed the play "A Piece of My Heart" by Shirley Lauro on September 26 & 27, 2025 while also sending it in for adjudication for this year's Kansas Thespian Festival. The company had been notified in December that their dedication and hard work had got us to be a MAIN STAGE show for festival this coming year. The superintendent, Dr. David McGehee, and EHS principal, Dathan Fisher, were both in attendance. The house was packed full of thespians during the performance. Our troupe was so proud and the audience at KTF received the show well.

Kansas Thespian Festival 2026

January 7-10, 2026, forty-seven students participated at Kansas Thespian Festival. Our troupe returned with 15 superior thespy medals, a $1000 scholarship, four trophies, and so much pride. Maddie Tuttle, CJ Elstun, Jax Cole, and others, worked hard to build a lobby display showcasing our troupe's handwork, which won 1st place at festival. Students Izzy Cole, Jax Cole, Atlyn Heffron, and Ben Sonnakolb got third place in the Tech Challenge at KTF. The company of A Piece of My Heart performed on the 10th in the Mary Jane Teall Theater. The one act Dont U Luv Me? was performed at festival in a competition for Chapter Select and was well received. Izzy Cole complied all of the activities of the troupe from the calendar year and presented the Honor Troupe Book which got Gold Troupe. Maggie Anderson won the Education Scholarship of $1000.  An improv team made up of Lexie Eubanks, CJ Elstun, Vivi Baldwin, Ella Neely, and Luis Rascon qualified for finals. 

Legally Blonde Recieves 9 Nominations for the 2025 Jester Awards

Jester Nominations:

Outstanding Production

Supporting Performer - Castiel Samples*

Cameo Performer - Akton Mason

Production Number - "There! Right There!"

Stage Crew

Scenic Design - Adrian Inglés

Costume Design - Hope East

Lighting Design - Brady Crouch*

Program Design - Kaylee Wellman

*Denotes award recipients

Into The Woods Recieves 6 Nominations for the 2024 Jester Awards

Jester Nominations:

Direction of a Show- Kacie Hastings

Leading Performer- Daniel Mendoza

Choreography and Staging- Arabella Turner & Kacie Hastings

Costume Design- Hope East & Nikki Morrow

Hair & Makeup Design- Lexie Eubanks

Scenic Design- Eddie Hosch

Silent Sky Goes to Kansas Thespian Festival

Our Advanced Theatre Class had recently performed the show Silent Sky by Laura Gunderson this November of 2022 while also sending it in for adjudication for this years Kansas Thespian Festival. The cast/crew had been notified around the 1st of December that their hard work and determination had made it as a MAIN STAGE show for festival this coming year. Our troupe is proud for the cast/crew and all of their endeavors. 

The Drowsy Chaperone Recieves 11 Nominations for the 2022 Jester Awards

Jester Nominations:

Outstanding Production

Direction of a Show- Kacie Hastings

Leading Actor in a Female Presenting Role- Laura Baldwin

Supporting Actor in a Male Presenting Role- Orion Turner

Ensemble/Chorus

Production Number- Toledo Suprise

Vocal Music Direction- Sarah Bays

Choreography and Staging- Mackenzie Thrasher

Stage Crew

Costume Design- Kimberlie Skirvin

Sound Design- Caelan Ulrich

Honorable Mentions-

Leading Actor in a Female Presenting Role- Sarah McDonald

Cameo Performer- Cas Samples

Lighting Design- Anthony Fusaro

Design Guest- Eddie Hosch

Program Design and Lobby Display- Sage Rodriguez

Theatre Kansas Nominations and Awards 2021

In May of 2021, Theatre Kansas Award nominations were released and Emporia High Theatre received nominations in 13 different categories. The nominations received were Overall Production, Direction of Show, Leading Actress, Leading Actor, Ensemble/Chorus, Small Ensemble, Orchestra Direction, Choreography/Staging, Costume Design, and Lobby Display. All nominations were from Children of Eden. Our troupe won Leading Actor, Leading Actress, and Outstanding Costume Awards. Liana Springeman, Snake in Children of Eden, was a part of the group nominated for the Small Ensemble Award. “I was really excited and loved getting nominated and I was very proud of my fellow snakes.” said Liana. Liana did not have the chance to go in person for the show but she was able to watch online. “It was really cool to see other peoples work and see other performers in our age category and watch the talent they display.” Liana continued. Although they did not win the award, it was an honor for the group to be nominated. Liana finished by saying, ”I was not really disappointed. It was nice to be nominated and the group that won was really, really good.”