MEET YOUR 2025 STATE THESPIAN OFFICERS
Mya Kelsey: Chair
Troupe #739
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Mya is a senior at North Scott High School and a proud member of Troupe #739. She’s thrilled to be serving on the STO board this year and is looking forward to connecting with new people, creating lasting memories, and building relationships with her fellow thespians. Since discovering her passion for theater as a freshman, Mya has embraced leadership roles, especially behind the scenes as a stage manager. She also serves as the webmaster on her troupe’s board and is actively involved in speech.
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Dunkin Bearson
Troupe #2987
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Dunkin Bearson is a senior at Ames High School (Troupe #2987) and is thrilled to serve as a 2025 STO. Dunkin has been passionate about theater since the age of nine, exploring various aspects of the craft. Currently, he proudly serves as Co-President of the Drama Club at Ames High. Dunkin’s theatrical interests span acting, improv, set design, set construction, publicity, and theater leadership. His favorite production to date is The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, where he portrayed Ken De La Maize, a famous director turned homicidal murderer. Outside of theater, Dunkin is an active member of Marching Band, Choir, Speech, Madrigal, and Musical productions. He’s excited to connect with new people and collaborate as part of the STO team!
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Will Emerle
Troupe #856
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Will Emerle is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School and a proud member of Thespian Troupe 856! On his troupe’s officer board, Will serves as the Out of House Vice President, where he is responsible for organizing events for the QC Arts community for his troupe to participate in. He is also an active participant of his high school’s speech team though the IHSSA! Some of Will’s favorite performance credits at his high school include SpongeBob in SpongeBob the Musical and Monsieur Bouc in Murder on the Orient Express. Will also frequently participates in community theatre in the Quad Cities area, with his favorite community credits including Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd and Dill Harris in To Kill a Mockingbird. Outside of theatre, Will loves to sing, and participates in choir, jazz choir, church cantoring, and was a part of the 2024 Iowa All State Chorus. He is extremely excited to engage with so many wonderful thespians across Iowa, and work with his fellow STOs to make theatrical arts accessible to anyone who wishes to participate!!
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Frank Morris
Troupe #10623
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Frank is a senior at Northwest High School in Waukee, Iowa. He is the first ever student from his school to represent as a State Thespian officer, and is thrilled to serve his community in both a local and state-wide sense. His theatre journey began as a freshman, where he served as Calvin O’ Keefe in A Wrinkle of Time as well as an assistant stage manager for Chicago: Teen Edition (which was labeled as an ‘outstanding musical production’ through the IHSMTA). He then worked on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, playing Alfred and serving on props, set, costume, and publicity crew. They also performed at the Iowa Thespian Festival, where he also was featured mainstage through his group acting thespy getting first place. For his spring musical, he was Martin J. in Mean Girls: Teen Edition and received an ‘Oustanding’ award for Behind-the-Scenes work through his work on props crew. His most recent production featured him as Jack Youngwood in Radium Girls while also working as the Props Head & Designer for the show. Outside of theatre, he does IHSSA and NSDA speech, serves on his student council’s executive board, is in the top auditioned choir at his school, is a singer and dancer in his schools varsity show choir ‘EOS’, and heavily contributes to his local high school thespian troupe (#10623). He proudly represents his school as a distinguished leader, and wants everyone to remember: Focus on the journey to success, not the achievement itself. The people and experiences around you are the best part about achieving, so work hard and treat people right.
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Norah Weber
Troupe #1470
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Norah Weber is a part of troupe 1470 and a senior at Mount Vernon High school. Norah has been very passionate about the arts for as long as she can remember, always finding a way to be a part of it. She is seen on stage and working behind the scenes all around the Cedar Rapids area including Ensemble in 13! The Musical at Rich Heritage Cedar Rapids Theater, and Alice in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Giving Tree Theater. On her High school stage she has been seen as Carole in 26 Pebbles, as well as featured Ensemble in Mary Poppins. Off the Main stage Norah heavily participates in her school's speech team, going to All-State in both large group and Individuals for One Act, and Poetry. She also participates in her school's top concert choir, sings in jazz choir, coaches choral reading for Mount Vernon’s freshman speech team, along with being vice president of student council. She is beyond excited to be a part of this amazing board of incredible people, who all have the same goals of making an impact through theatre!
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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
