Article by Tom Markland and published in The Journal on February 18, 2026, link to full article HERE.
Applause and cheers echoed through Musselman High School’s auditorium as high school performers, technicians and directors from across the Eastern Panhandle gathered to celebrate a year’s worth of work at the regional thespian festival.
Six high schools area each presented a one-act production Saturday, while dozens of students also competed in technical theater categories ranging from costume construction and scenic design to sound, marketing and short film. Top projects and performances will advance to the state festival in March.
“It’s mostly a celebration of what they share and their love for theater and all the hard work that they put into it,” said Martha Louden, chapter director for West Virginia Thesbians. “The kids compete, but they don’t compete. They celebrate each other and they all support each other.”
Louden, who has served as chapter director for 13 years, said the state-level festival dates back to the late 1980s, when it was known as the State High School Drama Festival. The competition has since evolved into the modern thespian festival format, divided into regions across West Virginia.
Preparation for the February regional event often begins months earlier. Students typically start rehearsing their one-act shows in late fall, juggling practices around holidays and winter weather before presenting at the area festival. State competition follows in March.
Among the schools advancing a performance to states is Hedgesville High School, whose director, Kelli Cooper, said her students began work as early as September.
Hedgesville’s one-act, “We are the Sea,” centers on the Irish potato famine and unfolds aboard a ship bound for America. The ensemble-driven piece relies heavily on movement, with the sea portrayed by a group of performers who absorb characters into the water as the story progresses.
“It’s a huge ensemble movement piece,” Cooper said. “As the characters pass, they become a part of the sea.”
Cooper said she was overwhelmed when the results were announced.
“I literally started crying and then I had to get it together because I had to go on stage,” she said. “I’m so proud of their work, and it truly shows.”
Spring Mills High School and Washington High School also advanced their shows, with Musselman High School taking a spot as an alternate.
In addition to the one-act performances, students were recognized for technical excellence. Awards were presented in categories including costume construction, costume design, makeup design, scenic design, sound design, stage management, puppetry, prop construction and theater marketing.
Louden explained that one to three projects in each technical category can advance to states, depending on scores and the number of entries.
As winners were announced, cheers erupted not only for classmates but for students from rival schools. Louden said that atmosphere of mutual support is one of the defining features of the festival.
“You heard them cheering for other schools because they saw the talent that they were sharing,” Louden said. “That’s what they do here. That’s what we do at the state festival, appreciating everybody.”
The students advancing will take the stage again at the state thespian festival March 26, where they will represent the Eastern Panhandle against top high school theater programs from across West Virginia.