BRENHAM STUDENTS TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL

  

Eighteen students from Brenham High School traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, last week to take part in the 2026 International Thespian Festival on the campus of Indiana University.

The Festival is the premier gathering of middle and high school theatre students and educators, welcoming more than 4,500 attendees from across the country and around the world.

The Brenham delegation spent the week immersed in workshops, performances, and college auditions.

Sadie Royer, an upcoming senior at Brenham High School, served as the Texas Thespian Student Ambassador. As a Student Ambassador, Royer had multiple responsibilities, which included helping run the festival itself, teaching workshops, and speaking and assisting during the opening and closing ceremonies.

All 18 students from Brenham High School competed in the International Thespian Excellence Awards, the festival's adjudicated showcase of prepared performance and technical work, and each of them earned a rating of Superior, Excellent, or Good from festival judges.

Olivia Pattison and Laura Beth Bodensteiner earned a Superior rating in Musical Theatre Dance Duet. Emily Lewis and Brittney Hajek earned a Superior rating in Duet Acting. Logan Rivas and Gillian Kocian earned a Superior rating in Duet Musical Theatre.

In one of the festival's signature events, Sophia Dubowik represented BHS in the BACKstage Challenge, a high-energy technical theatre competition presented in partnership with Disney Live Entertainment, and placed fifth overall.