This year, the Athens Theatre Company will stage a fall play in November, the Troy Theatre Ensemble will stage a winter play in January, and the companies will collaborate to stage a musical in April, building on a history of previous collaborations in 2013 and 2021.

Thirteen students from Troupes 3729 (Athens High School) and 2376 (Troy High School) attended the Michigan Thespian Festival in Lansing on December 12-13, 2025. Students participated in a range of workshops teaching audition techniques, rigging safety, improvisation skills, stage combat, and choreography from Broadway musicals, including Chicago, Hairspray, and Newsies. Students enjoyed the opening and closing ceremonies and attended high school productions of Inherit the Wind and The Play That Goes Wrong. Junior Quin VanAmberg also performed the song “Beautiful” from the musical Head Over Heels in the Student Showcase to an audience of over 2000 fellow Thespians.

Six students from Athens participated in the Thespys. Sophomore Desi Miller was awarded an Excellent rating for Acting. Sophomores Addison Hang and Alex Wingblad were awarded an Excellent rating for Ensemble Acting. Sophomore Anna Holt and junior Lance Shea were awarded an Excellent rating for Musical Theatre Performance. Junior Quin VanAmberg was awarded a Superior rating for Musical Theatre Performance, qualifying her to participate in the Thespys at the national level in the International Thespian Festival to be held at Indiana University Bloomington in June 2026.

Two seniors from Troy High auditioned for college scholarships and were offered a total of $731,380. Iza Chung presented the costumes he made for last year’s spring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Troy High, and this year’s production of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon at Athens. He also performed a musical number from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and a monologue from Peter and the Starcatcher, which he is currently busy rehearsing for Troy High’s upcoming production in January. He was recently cast in several featured roles for the spring musical, Les Miserables, which will be staged by students from both Athens and Troy High in April. Iza was offered $448,000 in college scholarship money. Natalie Farnham presented her production plan for last year’s musical at Troy High, White Christmas, which she stage-managed. Natalie will stage manage Troy High’s upcoming production of Peter and the Starcatcher in January, and the combined spring musical, Les Miserables, in April.  Natalie was offered $283,380 in scholarship money.

Troupe Leader & Director Marc Vickers and Vocal Director Adrienne Covian were proud to support these outstanding student performers and technicians who were excellent representatives of both International Thespian Troupes and the Troy School District.

DIRECTOR:  Marc Vickers Email: mvickers@troy.k12.mi.us