CHARLES COUNTY, Md. – The International Thespian Excellence Awards, better known as the Thespys, recognize the highest level of achievement in school theatre performance, technical theatre, playwriting and filmmaking.
The program celebrates the work of theatre students, giving them the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on prepared theatrical material, technical designs, plays and short films, and recognizing their achievements on the chapter and national level.
Acting, costume construction, costume design, lighting design, makeup design, musical theatre dance, musical theatre performance, playwriting, props construction, scenic design, short film, sound design, stage management, theatre marketing.
Students from La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough, North Point, St. Charles and Westlake high schools have been nominated for a 2026 Thespy.
Solo Musical Theatre
Sony Alvarez, junior, St. Charles.
Laila Anderson, junior, Westlake.
Allison Bowser, senior, North Point.
Jayda Brown, junior, McDonough.
Alexa Byrd, senior, McDonough.
Mikayla Nairn, senior, McDonough.
Arzelle Angelique Cayetano, senior, North Point.
Kari Ferguson, senior, St. Charles.
Tessa Fetterman, senior, McDonough.
Knox Johnson, senior, North Point.
Nyakallo Mashego, junior, North Point.
Skye Reyes, senior, McDonough.
Alivia Snyder, junior, McDonough.
Krystal Walker, senior, Westlake.
Duet Musical Theatre
Reyes and Brett Wood, senior, McDonough.
Byrd and Nairn, McDonough.
Fetterman and Juliana Steinmetz, junior, McDonough.
Logan Boswell, sophomore, and Marcuse Marshall, senior, St. Charles.
Alvarez and Kamryn Williams, junior, St. Charles.
Group Musical Theatre
St. Charles “Freak Flag” cast — seniors Zaria Bell, Ferguson, Arielle Gamboa, Jayla Harris, Amari Joe, Marshall, Chase Stevenson, Charlize Thomas, Anya Thompson and Cassidy Truesdale; juniors Alvarez, Ahmir Nelson, Khairi Smith and Williams; and sophomores Boswell and London Thomas.
Solo Acting
Zachary Saunders, senior, La Plata.
Steinmetz, McDonough.
Solo Musical Theatre Dance
Anneliza Yarbourgh, senior, La Plata.
Stage Management
Kendall Destry, sophomore, McDonough.
Costume Design
Mya Sellers, senior, McDonough.
The CCPS All-County Thespian Troupe will perform the musical, “The Addams Family,” at the International Thespian Festival this summer. To read more about the production, visit www.ccboe.com.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,904 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high-quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices.
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814.
For special accommodations, call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).