District High School Theater Students Shine at National Thespian Festival and Jimmy Awards

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Carver High School performing arts student Alyssa Dorsey (center) sings at The Jimmy Awards® 2024 in New York City. She was chosen as a semi-finalist, placing in the top 40 out of 102 students.

Aldine ISD high school theater troupes recently returned from the International Thespian Festival, bringing home numerous awards. They also had the opportunity to participate in various workshops, build meaningful relationships with other theatre enthusiasts, and watch award-winning theater productions. One student also advanced to the national competition of The Jimmy Awards® in New York City and was chosen as a semi-finalist, placing in the top 40 out of 102 students.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and their achievements at the International Thespian Festival,” said Refugio Rodríguez, Aldine ISD director of performing arts. Their unwavering dedication and hard work have truly paid off. On behalf of district leaders and their theater directors, we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and excel in their theatrical pursuits while they are in our schools and their future.”

The national competition occurred at the International Thespian Festival held at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, June 23-28. Superior-rated students earned Thespian Society Gold Pins, and Superior-rated and Thespy winners received Thespian Society Medallions. These awards recognize exceptional talent and hard work. Each award-winning school theater troupe will receive an overall trophy from the competition, marking their outstanding performance at the festival.

“Theatre education provides skills for a lifetime,” said Julie Cohen Theobald, former executive director. “We are here to support your work, honor your accomplishments, advance your skills, and advocate for the field.”

Based on state event results, students advanced to the national competition. Aldine ISD had 50 students advance to the national competition. Carver High School, an Aldine ISD Choice School, had 27 students competing at nationals, followed by Davis HS with 11, Nimitz HS with six, Aldine HS with three, and Eisenhower HS and MacArthur HS with two, respectively.

RESULTS

Carver High School

Of the 27 Carver students who qualified, 15 competed at nationals, 13 received Superior ratings at the national competition, and two earned Excellent ratings.

• • Superior Ratings — Ivan Davidson and Aja White in Duet Acting
  • Superior Ratings — Aja White* in Monologue
  • Superior Ratings — Alyssa Dorsey and Takera Swain in Duet Musical
  • Superior Ratings — Kennadie Amos, Tyler Brantley, Brittany Cardona-Baquedano, Bailey Day, Tiana Jones, Morgan Potts, Na’Leeyah Tatum, and Amayah Watson in Group Musical
  • Superior Ratings — Tatiana Smith in Stage Management

*Texas Thespians also allows students to compete again at the virtual level if they missed the Texas Thespians State Festival or want to compete in another individual event. The virtual state competition was held in January. Aja White, who had already qualified in duet acting, also qualified in Monologue. She competed at Nationals and received a Superior Rating, so she had superior ratings at Nationals in two events: Duet Acting and Monologue.

Alyssa (center) poses with Carver HS Theater Department directors Roshunda Jones-Koumba and Jabari Raul Collins at The Jimmy Awards®.

It’s worth noting that on the Monday of Nationals, Carver HS student Alyssa Dorsey, a Tommy Tune Awards Jimmy Nominee, competed at The Jimmy Awards® in New York City. Click here to find Alyssa in The Jimmy Awards Playbill on Page 33). Her exceptional talent and hard work were recognized as she was chosen as a semi-finalist, placing in the top 40 out of 102 students.

As a semi-finalist, Alyssa and other semi-finalists were able to perform their character medley at the Jimmy Awards; click here to view the video and hear her sing her rendition of “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard: The Musical.

Roshunda Jones-Koumba, Head Theater Director
Jabari Collins, Technical Theater Director

Davis High School

Davis HS’ Brianna Emilien, Calen Johnson, and Raven Washington perform at the 2024 International Thespian Festival.

Davis thespians made history with their first national ranking and a Thespy win in group acting for To Be Young, Gifted and Black: A Portrait of Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words.

• • Superior Ratings — Karen Singleton and Deshawn Young for Purlie by Ossie Davis
  • Superior and #1 National Ratings in Group Acting, and Thespy Winners — Brianna Emilien, Calen Johnson, Raven Washington, and Khalijah Williams for their performance in To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: A Portrait of Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words by Robert Nemiroff
  • Excellent Ratings — Joyous Feagins, Suyai Gallegos, Samatha Gilay, Haley Griffin, and Priscilla Lune for the reimagined play The Women of Troy

Clifford Alexander, Head Theater Director

Eisenhower High School

• • Superior Rating — Logan Daniel Rouse for his Solo Performance of “Not Today” from The Addams Family
  • Good Rating — Madalin Carillo Rodríguez for Hair and Makeup for Beetlejuice

HeidiAaron Rouse Bryant, Head Theater Director

Nimitz High School

Of the six students who qualified, three competed in nationals, two received Superior Ratings, and one received Excellent Ratings.

• • Superior Ratings — Cherish Johnson and Moriah Ford for their Duet Scene of My Girlish Days by Karen L. B. Evans
  • Excellent Ratings — Mercedes Gutiérrez Díaz for her Monologue from Real Women Have Curves by Josefina López and Othello by William Shakespeare

Kimberly J. Ardison, Head Theater Director

The Department of Performing Arts and campus theater directors shared the results here.

View more pictures from the two national competitions.

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About the International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society has been honoring student achievement in theatre since 1929. The ITS is the only theatre honor society for middle and high school students in the United States. Affiliation brings credibility and distinction to students, theatre programs, and schools. It is a visible, positive symbol of the quality of your theatre program. Since its inception, over 2.4 million students have been inducted into the ITS.

ITS is a platform that recognizes and rewards student achievement and encourages and celebrates their work in all aspects of theatre — performance and production. Each student is honored on a national level and gains access to a wide range of opportunities and resources that extend beyond their schools.