Students from five Charles County Public Schools high schools earned nominations for the 2026 International Thespian Excellence Awards, known as the Thespys, recognizing standout achievements in school theatre across performance and technical categories.
The Thespys, administered by the Educational Theatre Association, honor excellence in areas including acting, musical theatre, dance, design, stage management, and more. Nominated students receive constructive feedback on their prepared material and compete at chapter and national levels, with top performers advancing to showcase at the International Thespian Festival.
Nominations announced March 19, 2026, cover students from La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough, North Point, St. Charles, and Westlake high schools. Categories and nominees include:
- 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: Skye Reyes and Brett Wood (seniors, McDonough); Alexa Byrd and Mikayla Nairn (seniors, McDonough); Tessa Fetterman and Juliana Steinmetz (junior, McDonough); Logan Boswell (sophomore) and Marcuse Marshall (senior, St. Charles); Sony Alvarez and Kamryn Williams (junior, St. Charles).
- Group Musical Theatre: St. Charles “Freak Flag” cast — seniors Zaria Bell, Kari Ferguson, Arielle Gamboa, Jayla Harris, Amari Joe, Marcuse Marshall, Chase Stevenson, Charlize Thomas, Anya Thompson, Cassidy Truesdale; juniors Sony Alvarez, Ahmir Nelson, Khairi Smith, Kamryn Williams; sophomores Logan Boswell, London Thomas.
- Solo Acting: Zachary Saunders (senior, La Plata), Juliana Steinmetz (McDonough).
- Solo Musical Theatre Dance: Anneliza Yarbourgh (senior, La Plata).
- Stage Management: Kendall Destry (sophomore, McDonough).
- Costume Design: Mya Sellers (senior, McDonough).
These nominations align with the broader success of the CCPS All-County Theatre Troupe, which features many of these students and will perform “The Addams Family Musical: School Edition” on the main stage at the International Thespian Festival in June 2026 at Indiana University Bloomington. The troupe secured one of only 12 main stage slots nationwide from over 1,000 submissions, marking the second Maryland school in 20 years to achieve this. Festival participants often compete in Thespys categories during the event.
The nominations highlight the strength of theatre programs across Charles County high schools, where students collaborate through the All-County Troupe, building skills and connections that extend to national recognition. Many nominated performers and technicians contributed to the acclaimed “Addams Family” production, which originated from summer 2025 rehearsals and school-year performances.
The International Thespian Festival provides workshops, performances, and competitive opportunities, allowing students to gain feedback and visibility in the theatre community. Nominated students will present their work for adjudication, with potential advancement to national awards.
This recognition follows the troupe’s rigorous preparation and fundraising efforts to support the June trip. The nominations underscore the dedication of students and educators in Southern Maryland’s performing arts scene.