MVHS Actors Win Big at This Year's California State Thespian Festival

California - On March 27-29, 16 of the MVHS drama participated in the California State Thespian Festival, and several won awards!

The International Thespian Society, which hosts this annual festival, gives students access to a variety of resources, including college scholarships, recognition, and workshops in addition to providing a space to showcase their work.

Cassidy Jessup and sophomore, Madison Prince were in the opening number, performing a song from Matilda, and their performance of “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” received the festival’s Judges’ Choice award. Junior, Melea von Tresckow, who portrayed Elizabeth in the fall play The Crucible, won the prestigious Best of Fest award for her monologues.

In the callbacks for monologues, out of 345 students, 40 were chosen, and three were from MVHS: Abby Royer, Katelyn Peterson, Shelby Hastings, Stephen Shoemaker, Melea von Tresckow, and Caleb Winkleblech. Eight out of sixteen performers were called back for or awarded Best of Fest or Judges’ Choice.

Although the MVHS thespians are no strangers to awards and recognition, this year’s wins demonstrate just how high the caliber of talent is coming off the MVHS stage.