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Iowa State Thespian Officers

The members of the Iowa Thespian Student Board represent all Thespians in the State of Iowa as the student leaders of the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board. The State Thespian Officers are selected at the Iowa Thespian Festival, and members serve from November to November. Activities include:
  • Attending monthly Iowa Thespian Chapter Board meetings
  • Attending the International Thespian Festival and participating in leadership workshops
  • Conducting leadership workshops at the State Festival
  • Organizing and implementing ideas for the Iowa State Thespian Festival
  • Communicating with other students through various outlets, including social media
  • Promoting the work of the International Thespian Society and Iowa Thespians
For information on becoming part of the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board, visit the State Thespian Officer information page

​

If you are interested in applying to be a
State Thespian Officer Candidate, click here for details.

Which STO are you most like?  Take our quiz?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/iowa_thespians/what-iowa-sto-are-you-9a9y3udeh0?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bfsharecopy 

Meet the 2020 State Thespian Officers:

​Casey Scott -  STO Chair
​Troupe #3994

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Casey Scott is delighted to return to the Iowa Thespian Chapter Board as the STO Chair this year. He is an active member of Troupe #3994 and serves as the Public Relations Manager. Casey began his journey with theatre in high school, working front of house for Davenport North's production of Peter and the Starcatcher, later auditioning for the Spring Musical, Les Misérables. Some of his favorite roles include The Baker in Into the Woods, Marius in Les Misérables, and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins. He also takes an active role in reaching out to theatre communities across the country, serving as the state representative for the One Theatre Movement. Besides theatre, he is also involved in Student Council, Student Senate, National Honor Society, Varsity Show Choir, Chamber Choir, and community theatre productions. One of his greatest joys is getting to interact with thespians from all over the state, virtually or at festival and he cannot wait to meet every thespian he can this year!

​Instagram: @caseyscottt_
Snapchat: cscottywall
​STO Email: iastochair@gmail.com
Twitter: Archetypal_Frog

Madeline Murphy - Special Projects
​Troupe # 2761

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Madeline Murphy is thrilled to be serving as the Iowa Special Projects STO! She is a very active member of Troupe #2761 at Assumption High School. She began acting as a little girl preforming in her friend’s living room, and she hasn’t stopped since! Some of her favorite roles include Jovie (Elf), Kitty (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Miss Nelson (Miss Nelson Is Missing). When she’s not on stage, she enjoys participating in Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, Marching Band, Concert Band, Mock Trial, Spanish Club, NHS, and Drama Board. She also loves spending time with her 10 younger siblings; she especially loves jamming to show tunes and going thrift shopping with her 3 and 4-year-old, theatre-loving, adorable sisters. She is so excited to make connections with thespians all across the state and attend many of their shows! She would like to remind everyone that she can easily be contacted via social media if anyone has questions or would just like to chat! 

​Instagram: Madeline_murphy25
Troupe Instagram: troupe_2761
Twitter: Murphym525
STO Email: iastospecialprojects@gmail.com

Maria Markus - Jr. Thespians
Troupe # 69

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Maria Markus is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as a 2020 Iowa State Thespian Officer. She has been performing for 8 years, participating in shows such as, School of Rock (Maria), Shrek (Young Fiona), and Footloose (Ensemble). Throughout the past two years, Maria has participated in IHSSA, receiving four all- state nominations. Some of which include Storytelling, Musical Theatre, and One Act Play. Over the past 2 years, Maria has taken on the role of vice chair, sophomore representative, paint crew head, and dance captain within Dubuque Senior, Troupe #69. Also, Maria would like to thank her parents for the endless support. She is ecstatic knowing she gets to help lead thespians in the State of Iowa. 

Instagram: maria_markus
Snapchat: mariamarkus52
Twitter: MariaMarkus9
STO email: iastojuniorthespians@gmail.com

Luis Avalos - Advocacy​
Troupe #1038

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​Luis Avalos is blessed and honored to serve as a 2020 State Thespian Officer! He is excited to represent Thespians from all across the state of Iowa, including his school’s troupe at South Tama! Luis, a sophomore at South Tama is a proud member of Troupe #1038, serving as sophomore representative. His theatre journey began when he was nine years old and he was offered the opportunity to be a part of a week long theatre camp (he played a jester)! After that experience, Luis’ love for theatre and fine arts blossomed. He is extremely grateful for all of the opportunities, relationships, knowledge, and experience that the theatre has provided him. Some of his favorite theatre moments include playing Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks (Annie), Mr. Boddy (Clue: On Stage), Jean-Michele (Cinderella), and Ed (Defying Gravity). At fifteen, he has participated in twelve shows through the community and throughout high school. Luis also participates in Large Group Speech, Individual Speech, Concert Band, Jazz Band I, Jazz Band II, Pep Band, Marching Band, Community Band, Choir, Show Choir, Black Hawk Youth Choir, Student Council, TRIO, Track and Field, After School Program, and Blue Crew. He hopes to meet new people from all backgrounds, reach out to new communities, learn from everyone he meets, and represent and advocate for Thespians to the best of his ability! He wants all Thespians to know that he will always be a person that you can talk to. Whether you have questions, need help with something, or just simply want to talk, he will be there!  :)

STO Email: iastoadvocacy@gmail.com
Personal Email: louieavalos98@gmail.com
Instagram: @luisss.avalosss
Twitter: @luisavalos_04
Snapchat: @louieavalos_04 ​



Hannah Wilson - Membership
Troupe #542

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Hannah Wilson feels extremely blessed and honored to be on your 2020 Iowa Thespian Chapter Board! Representing troupe #542 from Bettendorf High School proudly, Hannah really has found her home away from home. Hannah’s theatre journey began in Elementary School in a BHS production of The Music Man, and she’s been in love with performing ever since. Some of her favorite roles being Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo and Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz. Outside of theatre, Hannah is involved in Concert Choir, Varsity Show Choir, and works in the daycare of her local gym. In her free time, you can find Hannah watching her favorite shows on Netflix, or listening to her favorite musicals. Hannah’s goal in the next year is to show others just how important theatre is, and how impactful it can be.

Instagram: @hannahrw43
Snapchat: @hannahrw43
Twitter: @hannah_wilson17
STO email: iastomembership@gmail.com


Erica Heiselman - Secretary
​Troupe #856

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​Erica Heiselman is thrilled to serve as Secretary on the Iowa State Thespian Officer Student Board. Erica also serves as Community Vice President for Troupe #856 at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf. She loves helping out on her drama department’s crews, especially with hair and props. She also performs on stage at her high school and in community productions. Her favorite roles in Maude (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Centipede (James and the Giant Peach Jr.), and Twin #2 (Peter Pan Jr.), among many others. Outside of theatre, Erica enjoys singing in choir, reading, crafting/art, listening to music, and dancing at Center Stage Performing Arts Academy. She is proud to be the “mom” of every friend group and hopes to fulfill those skills by being supportive of each and every Thespian that she meets. Erica hopes to keep up the inclusivity of theatre and can’t wait to meet all of Iowa’s lovely Thespians. She is forever thankful for her family, friends, and troupe for being so supportive of her theatre and leadership endeavors. Erica is excited for a successful and fun year on the 2020 State Thespian Officer Board!

STO Email: iastosecretary@gmail.com
Instagram: @ericaheiselman
Twitter: @EricaHeiselman
Snapchat: ericaheiselman​

Barrett Edwards - Communications
Troupe #4274

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​Barrett Edwards is a proud member of thespian troupe #4274 and is thrilled to serve as a 2020 state thespian officer. From a very young age, Barrett has been passionate about theater and storytelling. Since finding theater he has grown to love most everything related to Fine Arts. He loves being a theater kid and is thankful for all of the opportunities theater has provided him. He participates in Choir, Band, Individual and Large Group Speech, Debate, Student Council, Diversity Alliance, Ambassadors, and serves as his troupes Advocacy Officer. His favorite roles include Gomez (The Addams Family), Guildenstern (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead), and Garry/Rodger (Noises Off). In his free time, Barrett loves to sing, play the piano, and volunteer for political campaigns. Barrett is extremely excited to interact with many of the amazing thespians across the state and is looking forward to a great 2020 festival.

Email: iastocommuncations@gmail.com
Instagram: barrett__james__ (personal)
ia_thespiansto (Iowa Thespians account which I can also be contacted at)  
Snapchat: bje2015

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IOWA THESPIANS
​
Our mission is to honor student achievement in theatre
 and enrich the educational experience, to support educators by providing professional development, networking opportunities, resources, and recognition, and to influence public opinion and policy-makers that theatre education is essential and builds life skills.
​
We are passionate about theatre education and believe all students should have access to theatre curriculum which provides critical life skills for educational and career success in the 21st century.

Questions? Contact our Chapter Directors at adean@dbqschools.org and lacorte.leslie@gmail.com 
  • Home
  • About
    • Adult Board >
      • Board Members
      • Meeting Minutes
    • Student Board >
      • STO Newsletters
    • Membership/Troupe Information
    • Performance Calendar
  • Events
    • Virtual High School Festival >
      • Contact Us
      • Registration Materials
      • Scholarship Auditions
      • Studio Theatres
      • Tech Challenge
      • Thespy Awards
      • Iowa Playworks
      • All-State Cabaret
    • Junior Thespian Festival
    • Virtual Leadership Day
  • For Teachers
  • Leadership
    • Michael Peitz Leadership Award
  • Junior Thespians
    • Membership
  • Hall of Fame