Local Students Shine at Virginia Thespian Festival

by Erin Gibbons

Herndon High Theatre students participate at VTE. Photo contributed by HHS Theatre

The Virginia Thespian Festival (VTF) brings high school theater students together from across the state for a weekend focused on hands-on learning, performance and connection. Students quickly learn how to show up prepared, accept feedback, and support each other in a setting that values effort, kindness, and growth.

At the heart of the festival is the student experience. From morning until night, participants move between workshops, rehearsals, competitions, performances, callbacks, and mainstage shows. They spend the weekend doing what they love, creating a community where they feel supported and understood while learning alongside peers who share their passion.

Lily Ingraham, president of South Lakes High School Virginia Thespian Troupe 4709, said the festival helped her grow both artistically and personally. “VTF is a wonderful experience, helping students expand their passion for theater and connect with like-minded peers,” Ingraham said. “I was able to grow artistically and build confidence through workshops led by professionals. By performing in the One Act Competition, I had an impactful theater experience and bonded with my peers. Through VTF, I found a theater community where art is celebrated.”

Laila Tomhave, president of the Herndon High School Virginia Thespians, said she had the opportunity this year to perform in one of the festival’s mainstage productions. “This year at the Thespian Festival, I had the privilege of performing in one of the mainstages,” Tomhave said. “The mainstages are evening productions put on by thespians from all over the state. The production I was part of was a Musical Theatre International pilot production of ‘Come From Away,’ in which I played Diane with Northern Virginia Performing Arts. Through that experience, I got to meet and bond with theater students from all over Northern Virginia and share this impactful story with friends and fellow thespians.”

For many students, the festival marks their first time performing outside their school, seeing high-level student productions or learning directly from professional actors, singers, dancers and designers. Workshops offer practical instruction in auditioning, movement, stage combat, scenic design, makeup, directing, and more.

Students return to their schools energized, bringing new skills and ideas that strengthen local theater programs and creative communities. Aspiring performers also gain exposure to next steps beyond high school through the college fair, auditions and scholarship opportunities offered throughout the festival.

In January, more than 60 students from South Lakes High School and 12 students from Herndon High School attended the Virginia Thespian Festival. South Lakes’ Virginia Thespian Troupe 4709 earned state runner-up honors in the one-act competition for “Metamorphoses” by Mary Zimmerman. Students also received 36 superior ratings, the highest possible, across musical theater, acting, playwriting, stage management, scenic design, lighting design, and makeup.

The festival demonstrated how meaningful, hands-on arts experiences build confidence, strengthen teamwork and help students discover what they are capable of, onstage, behind the scenes and wherever their creativity leads them.