The Road to Serving at the State Level
Andrew started pursing acting at the beginning of his freshman year. "Acting has been a huge passion," he said, reflecting on the past four years. "I decided to give it a shot and have loved it ever since!" By the time he submitted his application to be a State Thespian last spring, he was no stranger to leadership positions. In his first three years at Pine Creek, he had been involved in Student Council, Vice-President of Sources of Strength, Director of Public Relations for DECA, and a member of the Screamin' Eagles, a club that promotes school spirit, inclusion, and the engagement of all students.
What do State Thespian Officers Do?
State Thespian Officers (STOs) are the torchbearers for creating community around excellence in educational theatre. They are not only instrumental in planning and executing Colorado's annual state Thespian Conference (ThesCon), the largest event for theatre and film students of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region, but also serve as advocates for high school Theatre programs and highlight the work of fellow Thespians.
To help select the different shows that would be performed during nightly ceremonies at ThesCon held this past December, Andrew got to travel around the state to view performances at other schools. As he watched he evaluated each on criteria such as acting, the show's technical aspects, and the show's overall engagement. "I really liked meeting the cast members and the tech crews!" Andrew said of the process.
In addition to providing essential leadership for ThesCon, each year Colorado's State Thespian Officers select a recipient and assist in the fundraising for "Share the Dream," a campaign that raises funds to support theatre organizations around the state. This year they were able to raise $6,000 to support Su Teatro, a cultural and performing arts center in Denver whose mission is to promote, produce, develop and preserve the cultural arts, heritage, and traditions of the Chicano/Latino community; to advance mutual respect for other cultures; and to establish avenues where all cultures may come together.
"He is very much a go-getter!" said Colorado Thespian Chapter Director, Tami LoSasso. "Andrew is the first to step up and volunteer to organize the logistics of things - whether that's events like student lead workshops, or new initiatives like the Troupe Spotlight that this year's STOs created."
Next Steps
With Graduation on the horizon, Andrew is excited about Creek Theatre's upcoming production of Bye Bye Birdie. He is still deciding which college he'll go, but anticipates studying Business Administration while continuing to pursue theatrical opportunities on the side.
"I'm really grateful to have had this opportunity!" Andrew said of having served as a State Thespian Officer. "It opened me up to different avenues for leadership within the community and allowed me to meet a bunch of amazing people!"
Interested in becoming a State Thespian Officer?
For those who might be considering applying to be a State Thespian Officer, Andrew says: "If you want to do it, go for it! If someone has a dream, they should follow it." Applications are due February 1st.
