Chieftains recognized at state thespian festival
Posted on 02/02/2020
Sapulpa theatre students at Oklahoma Thespian Festival(SPS) -- What a weekend for more than 20 Sapulpa High School theatre students.

Twenty-two members of the high school’s Thespian Troupe 7122 participated in the Oklahoma Thespian Festival at Tulsa Community College on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Approximately 400 students gathered for the two-day festival to compete in acting and technical theatre events, perform 10-minute showcases, audition for colleges and thespian scholarships, speak with college representatives, participate in theatre workshops, and celebrate educational theatre.

Sapulpa entered two teams in the Tech Olympics competition and both were victorious. The team, Mad Props, won Best Team Name and the team, Hamlights, featured Ella Larson as the winner of Threading a Sewing Machine.

Mad Props team

Mad Props members included Abigail Yocham, Maggie Lawson, Ashlynn Mathena, Maddie Green, and Ashlyn Bush. Hamlights members were Ella Larson, Madison Masters, Braden Steddum, Leona Crowl, Isaiah Nusser, and Briana Williams.

Ella Larson

Ana Pagan, Leona Crowl, Braden Steddum, Briana Williams, and Madelyn DeGraffenreid earned a Superior rating in Group Acting, which qualified them to compete at the International Thespian Festival in Indiana in June. They were also honored to perform in the Closing Ceremony as Best in Show for Group Acting.

Students wearing medals

Individually, senior Maddie Benjamin participated in the College and Thespian Scholarship Auditions. She was noticed and called back by 16 college representatives. Maddie earned a $500 scholarship, one of 10 scholarship winners this year.

Maddie Benjamin

Also at the festival, officers were selected for upcoming years. Ana Pagan will serve as a State Thespian Officer with Briana Williams serving as a Shadow for 2020-21. Williams will move on to serve as an Officer in 2021-22.

Ana Pagan and Brianna Williams

“Sapulpa has had at least one State Thespian Officer every year since the revival of the state festival five years ago,” said Sapulpa High School Theatre Director Becky Braswell. “We are so proud of Sapulpa's talented theatre students.”

You can see many of these students on stage for the high school musical production of Freaky Friday on March 5, 6, and 7. 

The Oklahoma Thespians are members of the International Thespian Society and Educational Theatre. EdTA’s student honorary organization, the International Thespian Society, is the world’s largest honor society recognizing excellence and achievement in middle and high school theatre students.


Sapulpa High School Troupe 7122