Virginia Thespians
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  • TROUPE DIRECTORS
    • SUPPORTING YOUR TROUPE
    • BRANDING
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  • PARTNERS
    • BOOKTIX PARTNERSHIP
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    • BECOME A SPONSOR
    • I AM A COLLEGE
    • I AM A GUEST ARTIST
    • I AM A VENDOR
    • I AM ALUMNI
    • I AM A VOLUNTEER/ CHAPERONE
    • I AM A POTENTIAL COLLEGE INTERN
  • FESTIVAL '25
    • FESTIVAL INFORMATION
    • OFFICIAL HOTEL
    • VTF SCHEDULE
    • MIDDLE SCHOOL FESTIVAL
    • MAINSTAGE FESTIVAL
    • ONE ACT FESTIVAL
    • THESPY FESTIVAL
    • SCHOLARSHIPS
    • WORKSHOPS
    • COLLEGE CONNECTIONS
    • ALL-STATE SHOW
    • ADULT AWARDS
  • VTF REGISTRATION
  • OTHER EVENTS
    • TH. EDUCATOR INTENSIVE
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Addie Schafer Benko
Executive director
Virginia Thespians
CONTACT

Virginia Thespian Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Addie Schafer Benko

BIOGRAPHY: Addie Schafer Benko is the Executive Director of Virginia Thespians and Artistic Director for a new pre-professional youth theatre training program called Creative Stages. She is also a Virginia Educator who has directed theatre and taught in K-12 classrooms for 6 years in Loudoun County, VA. Addie received her Master's in Education as well as BA in English and Theatre from the College of William and Mary. Addie is also a National Geographic Educator and was a 2019 fellow. Addie was a Fulbright Teacher in 2015 in Malaysia. She has traveled to teach English and arts skills nationally as well as internationally. She is working with Northern Virginia schools to expand their summer programs along with doing contracting work on the side and looks forward to another year at VTF!

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Catina Anderson
Assistant to the executive director
Virginia Thespians
CONTACT

ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - 
​Catina Anderson

BIOGRAPHY: Catina is excited to join Virginia Thespians as the Assistant to the Executive Director in 2023, approximately 30 years after being inducted into ITS as a member of troupe 1445 in Maryland! She brings with her over 25 years of experience working with high school and youth performers in color guard, theatre and show choir. Catina holds degrees in Music and Biology as well as a Masters in Education with VA teaching endorsements in Vocal Music K-12 and Biology. She has worked as a choreographer, music director, costume mentor and AD in educational theatre, as a choreographer for middle school choir and works as an administrative assistant for Creative Stages. Catina is looking forward to all the excitement, creativity and collaboration of VTF 2025!


Officers and Chairs

EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Chapter Director: Tracy Bourne 
State Vice Co-Chair: Heather Ursano
State Vice Co-Chair: Brian Kaufman
Treasurer: Neil Burch
Secretary: Skye Whitcomb
Ex Officio: Katie Hudson


COMMUNITY CHAIRS:
College Rep: Todd Parrott, Longwood University
Guest Artist Rep: Rhys McClelland
Alumni Rep: Candy Decker
Vendor Rep(s): Hilton & Capital One Hall


​OPEN POSITIONS:
One Act Vice Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
Registration Chair
​Mainstage Vice Chair

​CHAIR POSITIONS:
Thespys: Michael Viola
​Scholarships: Zack Kattwinkel

College Coordinator: Clare Gillespie
JR. Thespians/ Middle School Chair: Andy Schlaf
STO/VTO Co-Chair:  Elizabeth Milne
One-Act Coordinator: Nicki Shepherd
Load in Coordinator: Mia Fisher-Phillips
Hospitality Chair: Shaun Redd
New Teacher Chair: Suzan McCorry
Festival Stage Manager: Emilie Fletcher
​Outreach Chair: Cecille Deason
Spirit Store Coordinator: David Noland
​DC School Liaison: Sharkey Andrews

VTF Safety Coordinator: Jeremy Smith
Professional Learning Chair: Justin Daniel
All-State Co-chairs: Justine Mackey & Megan Emanuel
EdTA Rep: Tori Kesling-Councill


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Tracy Bourne
STATE CHAPTER DIRECTOR
Kecoughtan HS
Troupe 2847
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Brian Kaufman
VICE DIRECTOR: MAINSTAGES & SPECIAL EVENTS
Langley High School
Troupe 3526
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Heather Ursano
VICE DIRECTOR:
ONE ACTS & GUEST SERVICES
Narrows High School
Troupe 8655
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Neil Burch
STATE TREASURER & REGISTRATION HEAD
Goochland HS
Troupe 6704
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Skye ​Whitcomb
state chapter secretary
James River HS ​
Troupe 5953
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Victoria Kesling-Councill
EdTA rep.
EdTA, Alumni #1762
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Katie Hudson
ex-officio
Broad Run HS
Troupe 3564
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Zack Kattwinkel
SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR
First Colonial HS
Troupe 3178
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Michael Viola
THESPYS CHAIR
South Lakes HS
Troupe 4709
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Nicki Shepherd
ONE ACT CHAIR
JOHN CHAMPE HS
​
Troupe 8012
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Clare Gillespie
colleges chair 
Colgan High School Troupe 8436
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Emilie Fletcher
FESTIVAL SM CHAIR
Heritage High School
Troupe 6743
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Andy Schlaf
JR THESPIAN/ STO CHAIR
Stone Hill MS
​Troupe 89464
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Mia Fisher-Phillips
load in coordinator
The Potomac School
Troupe 7639
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Cecille Deason
OUTREACH CHAIR
Turner Ashby High School
Troupe 6288
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Suzonn McCorry
NEW teacher CHAIR
Lafayette High School
Troupe 4159
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Elizabeth Milne
stos coorDINator
Tabb High School
Troupe 1585
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Shaun Redd
HOSPITALITY CHAIR
Kecoughtan HS
Troupe 2847
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Megan Emanuel
ALL STATE CO-CHAIR
Brookville High School
Troupe 7962
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Justine Mackey
All state co-CHAIR
Spotswood HS
Troupe 6794
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Jeremy Smith
SAFETY coordinator
Guest Artist & Previous EMT, #4008 Alumni
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Hilton & Capital One Hall
vendor repS
Host sites for VTF
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Sharkey Andrews
DC School Liaison
McKinley Technology High School
 Troupe 8863 (DC)
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Rhys McClelland
guest artist rep
Central VA,
 Performance-Focused
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Justin Daniel
Professional learning CHAIR
Tuscarora High School
Troupe 7925
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Candy Decker
alumni rep. coordinator
Alumni, Troupe 3718
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David Noland
Spirit store coordinator
Independence HS
​Troupe 8985
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Jeffrey Todd Parrott
college rep.
Longwood University

WHY JOIN THE BOARD?

  • Share the needs of your program, school, and larger community
  • Speak on behalf of your students to help shape the annual festival
  • Take on a statewide leadership role with your talents, strengths, and at your pace
  • Participate in an inclusive retreat getaway for a weekend to prep for the big event
  • Have first call for presenting at our teacher conference and volunteering roles
  • Get your guaranteed volunteer hours for reimbursement
  • Early information given for upcoming events, opportunities, newsletters, etc.
  • Volunteer, event planning, and advocacy experience at the state level
  • Resources to get involved at the national level

"ACT WELL YOUR PART, THEREIN ALL THE HONOR LIES."


CONTACT US
DONATIONS
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2025 SPONSORS

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors: Noble Blades, Impact Tours and Travel, YouthPLAYS, Shindig Digital Programs, We Help Two, Ludus, ACG, Booktix, Broadway Global icensing, DeLong Rigging Solutions, J.W. Pepper and Son, Inc., NextStop Theatre Company, Scenery Bags, SL ShowTech, Theatrefolk, Charcoal Blue, & Traveling Players Ensemble!
  • Home
  • OUR CHAPTER
    • MISSION
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • VIRGINIA THESPIAN OFFICERS
    • OUR HISTORY
    • HONOREES
    • SPIRIT STORE
    • CONTACT
  • TROUPE DIRECTORS
    • SUPPORTING YOUR TROUPE
    • BRANDING
    • DIGITAL RESOURCES
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • FAQ'S
  • PARTNERS
    • BOOKTIX PARTNERSHIP
    • Ludus Partnership
    • BECOME A SPONSOR
    • I AM A COLLEGE
    • I AM A GUEST ARTIST
    • I AM A VENDOR
    • I AM ALUMNI
    • I AM A VOLUNTEER/ CHAPERONE
    • I AM A POTENTIAL COLLEGE INTERN
  • FESTIVAL '25
    • FESTIVAL INFORMATION
    • OFFICIAL HOTEL
    • VTF SCHEDULE
    • MIDDLE SCHOOL FESTIVAL
    • MAINSTAGE FESTIVAL
    • ONE ACT FESTIVAL
    • THESPY FESTIVAL
    • SCHOLARSHIPS
    • WORKSHOPS
    • COLLEGE CONNECTIONS
    • ALL-STATE SHOW
    • ADULT AWARDS
  • VTF REGISTRATION
  • OTHER EVENTS
    • TH. EDUCATOR INTENSIVE