ShelbyGerken

The newly established Marian drama club attended the Nebraska Thespian Society Festival for the first time in nearly 50 years on Jan. 5-6. For many years, Marian was not able to attend due to not having an official troupe within the society. This was all made possible by senior Maddie Smith. 

Moderator of the club, assistant to the principal and choreographer of the fall musical, Mrs. Michelle Delisi, said, “The last time I was at a thespian festival was when I was a senior at Marian in 1974. We tried a couple years ago to create a theater troupe and we could not get girls to come to the club meetings, and we didn’t get the attendance. This is really the first year that it’s established. Maddie Smith was the girl behind it. This was something that she really wanted Marian to do and to be a part of.” 

Smith started the drama club in the fall of 2022 with the hopes of giving Marian the opportunity to go to the festival and be involved with the Nebraska Thespian Society. Smith was a member of Burke High School’s theater troupe when Marian didn’t have one and loved the experience.

“I feel like there’s so many opportunities for theater within Omaha and within the Nebraska high school system, that I wanted Marian to be a part of. I wanted students to be able to participate in the workshops, the state festival and the camps that are offered through these institutions. I feel like it’s a fun way for Marian to receive representation in the arts and to get our name out there,” Smith said. 

At the annual Nebraska Thespian Society Festival, students are able to participate in group workshops and masterclasses led by theater educators from all over Nebraska. In addition, select active students in the society are able to audition pieces to perform in the closing ceremony. Smith was granted a second callback and was one of 10 performers in the closing showcase. 

 “The arts in general are pretty underrepresented in the education system, so the fact that there is this outlet for students to be recognized for their craft, both onstage and offstage, is really special to see at the pre-collegiate level,” Smith added. 

Seven members of the small drama club chose to be inducted into the troupe to gain a new experience in going to the festival.  

Sophomore Helen Christen said, “Although we were a really small group compared to other schools, it’s a really cool community to be a part of. It was cool that we were able to go and participate in such a large event and see other schools’ productions and not just what we do at Marian.” 

“The society gets us more involved with our state community, and it helps us get more connected with college information and auditions because they are connected to these events,” junior Annie Stessman said. 

“Seeing our troupe finally being able to go again was so special, especially for the senior girls, it being our last chance to go. I liked being able to reunite with my friends who do theater in different schools, but I also really enjoyed the masterclasses and all of the different things that we were able to participate in at the festival,” senior Abi Howard said. 

“I loved drama club when I was a student. It was my favorite memory, being a part of the thespian program. Just watching all the girls at the festival and seeing kids having fun and bonding was my favorite part,” Delisi said. “I hope we can continue to grow, and hope our girls will still be involved in the festival and other opportunities it offers.” 

Though Smith is graduating this year and plans to pursue theater in college, she “hopes that the troupe stays active, and continues to grow within the school. I hope that it stays alive and vibrant for those students who are passionate about this and that they’re recognized for their passion.”