OUR MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of the West Virginia Thespians to advocate for and celebrate excellence in theatre arts education at the school, community, and state levels. WV Thespians promotes passion for the arts and empowerment of all students through theatrical and leadership experiences that provide creative enrichment for students and teachers.
WV Thespians achieved Silver level for national Honor Chapter for 2023.
OUR GOVERNING BOARD
Chapter Director : Martha Louden
182 Maddex Farm Drive, Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Phone: (304) 886-8805; email: mblouden@yahoo.com
Area 1 : Dan Henthorn - Magnolia HS
601 Maple Avenue, New Martinsville, WV 2655
Phone: w: (304) 455-1990; email: dmhenthorn@gmail.com
COUNTIES: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler and Wetzel
Area 2: Erin Adams - Fairmont Sr. HS
1 Loop Park, Fairmont, WV 26554
Email: elzuchowski@k12.wv.us
SCHOOLS: Bridgeport HS, Fairmont Sr. HS, Grafton HS, Lincoln HS, Morgantown HS, Robert C. Byrd HS, North Marion HS, University HS; COUNTIES: Doddridge, N. Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Tyler
Area 3: Joshua Riese – Spring Mills HS
499 Campus Drive, Martinsburg, WV 25404
Email: joshua.riese@k12.wv.us
COUNTIES: Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral and Morgan
Area 4: Jason Young – Vintage Theatre Company
Email: VintageTheatreCo@gmail.com
SCHOOLS: Buckhannon-Upshur HS, Elkins HS, Lewis Co. HS, Notre Dame HS, South Harrison HS, Tucker Co. HS; COUNTIES: Barbour, S. Harrison, Lewis, Pendleton, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur
Area 5: Doug Parks – Parkersburg South HS
1511 Blizzard Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: w: (304) 532.2615; email: ldparks@k12.wv.us
COUNTIES: Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and
Wood
Area 6: Robin Bunch Bailey, Chapmanville Regional HS
200 Vance Street, Chapmanville, WV 25508
Email: robin.bailey@k12.wv.us
COUNTIES: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Mingo, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Wayne and
Logan
Area 7: Jamie Jarvis - Webster County HS
1 Highlander Drive, Cowen, WV 26206
Email: james.jarvis@k12wv.us
COUNTIES: Fayette, Greenbrier, Summers, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, PocahontasRaleigh, Webster and Wyoming
State Thespian Officer (STO) Advisor: Caitlin Maxwell - Email: cplmaxwell17@gmail.com
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Member at Large: Jared St. Martin Brown - Email: jbrown@k12.wv.us
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Member at Large: Eric Zuchowski - Email: ezuchowski@gmail.com
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College/University Representative: Michael Aulick - West Liberty University; Email; maulick@westliberty.edu
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STUDENT THESPIAN OFFICERS 2023/2024
Victoria Baldwin, Bridgeport HSl
Zander Parks, Parkersburg South HS
Samara Casto, Ripley HS
Caroline Rollyson, Huntington HS
Gabby Christie, Bridgeport HS
Heather Sanns, Huntington HS
Amelia Davis, Parkersburg HS
Sophia Schroeder, Bridgeport HS
Alyson Henson, Huntington HS
Bella Siers, Bridgeport HS
Wyatt Higby, Ripley HS
Isabell Smith-Pounds, Hedgesville HS
Payton Hill, HS
Olivia Southall, Ripley HS
Kandace Ledsome, Fairmont Sr. HS
Shane Totten, Bridgeport HS
Zoe Levy, Martinsburg HS
Logan Vandevender, Webster County HS
Nataly Martinez, Martinsburg HS
Lauren Young, Parkersburg HS
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
WV Thespians is resolutely committed to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the life and culture of our organization. Through evaluation of our policies and practices, WV Thespians will work to bring awareness to marginalized voices, bodies, and stories. We will listen and learn about adversity, discrimination, and racism and adopt anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practices.
We believe that all people deserve access to theatre, and that theatre better reflects life when everyone is a part of the conversation. We promise to make our organization, conferences, and services available to all. We pledge to create an environment that welcomes as many people as possible, and to identify, address, and eliminate barriers.
The commitment and dedication of our board and membership motivate the opportunities that are available through WV Thespians. We value the interconnectedness of individuals who are devoted to theatre in WV schools and state to create a strong community of theatre practitioners.
The sharing of ideas, best practices, and opportunities is a critical component to our organization and the growth of theatre as an art form. We pledge clear, consistent, and efficient communication to support the needs of our membership and the progress of theatre in our schools.
We highly regard the life, stories, and theatre that lifts up people from a wide variety of lived experiences and we pledge to support the most vulnerable among us and provide opportunities for all people.
We promise to conduct business with humility and sincerity, to seek truth in all interactions, to put the needs of our teachers and students first, to show respect to those who choose to share their expertise and to operate with strong moral and ethical standards.
We are inspired by the passion of our membership for theatre as an art form. We believe in the power of stories, in shared ideals, and the ability of theatre to make change in the world. WV Thespians is committed to sharing this passion with others and inspiring the future of theatre in our schools.
