More than 1,200 high school players recently took to the stages at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to vie for the title of top thespians. 

Competing in six categories, Crockett High School Thespian Troupe No. 1924 placed first in High School Group Acting at the 2015 International Thespian Festival in late June.

Their national win was the final victory in a series of wins that included being named one of the best troupes in the state at the Texas Thespian State Festival in November 2014. There, Crockett received a perfect score from all three judges in the preliminary round of Group Acting, earned a Superior rating and qualified for national competition. 

In addition to qualifying for Nationals at the Dallas competition, the Crockett Theatre Department was also selected as the 2015 "Send a Troupe to Festival" Grant recipient.

This grant, estimated at approximately $15,000, covered the costs of registration, rooming, meals and travel for 18 Crockett theatre students and two chaperones to attend the festival in Nebraska.

As part of this grant award, students were featured in several festival blogs and social media postings, interviews and celebrity-like photo sessions.

Crockett's award—officially being named the 2015 International Thespian Society National Individual Events Showcase Finalist—is the highest honor a school can receive in NIES competition.

Crockett’s Group Acting scene was a five-minute selection from the play "Haymarket Eight," published by Samuel French and written by Derek Goldman and Jessica Thebus. Crockett Thespian Troupe No. 1924 is under the direction of Christina Burbank and includes the following competing students: Alyssa Arellano, Libbie Barnes, Casey Calderon-Smith, Bobbie Greenough, Andy Gomez, Jesse Hernandez, Daylin Martinez-Flores, Sarah Luna Newcomer, Samantha Overfelt, David Pena and Cameron Smith.

Three students also took part in the college audition portion of the festival. Pena, Hernandez and Rogelio Rocha earned a combined total of more than 45 call-backs from universities and conservatories from throughout the U.S.

Congratulations to all our Crockett High School thespians!