Project Proposal
Each year the CHS Drama Department takes students to the Nebraska Thespian Festival. In this 3-day immersive theater experience, students participate in workshops, learn from keynote speakers/performers/technicians, compete in improv acting and technical challenges, perform/present “Thespys”, and meet and make friends with theater students from across the state of Nebraska. Funding from the CHS Foundation allows CHS thespians to attend regardless of their families’ ability to pay.
Amount Funded: $3,000
“I am so grateful for the support from The CHS Foundation to help provide these incredible opportunities for students to attend the ITS NE Thespian Festival and work with/learn from local guest artists. Several of our students earn Superior Rankings in competitive events each year. They also build a positive self-esteem, gain confidence in themselves and develop performance/presentation skills that will help them in all they do in life.”
Scott Mead, CHS Drama Teacher
30 Students Impacted
Commitment to Closing the Opportunity Gap
Prior to the festival event, students engage with and learn from guest artists and theater professionals from the Omaha community. While attending this festival, students are exposed to a variety of high-quality theatrical workshops, events, and productions. They also meet other theater students from across the state which helps to build the theater community. These experiences are costly and thus not readily available and accessible to students without the extra support that the CHS Foundation offers.
Translation to College and Career Readiness
Students have opportunities to audition for Nebraska Thespian Scholarships as well as interview/audition for university theater departments while attending the event. In addition, the skills and connections they make with theater artists across the country and other students assist them in networking and preparing for a future in the theater/performing arts/entertainment industry.
“I’m incredibly thankful to the Foundation for their support so that I had the opportunity to participate in the Thespian Festival. The workshops help you hone skills you are already practicing and provide you with hands-on experiences that can be hard to find outside of the festival. This experience helped me gain more confidence in socializing with strangers when I went to workshops without my Central friends and met new people. Having confidence and learning to be more comfortable in a new situation with unfamiliar people is a valuable skill in college and life.”
Grace Messina, Class of 2027