For a full list of previous Festival honorees, please visit the Previous Honorees page.

2021
"Thespian Nation Live" Virtual Event
Keynote Speaker: 
​Cody Renard Richard
2020-2021 School Year
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year:
All Virginia Theatre Teachers

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2020
"20/20 Vision: A Clear Future for Theatre" at Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA
Mainstages:
Rent: School Edition - Virginia All-State Cast and Crew
Trap - Kecoughtan High School, Troupe 2847
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644
​Keynote Speakers: Wilson Jermaine Heredia & Emily Winokur
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year:
​Justin Daniel - Tuscarora High School, Troupe 7925

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2019
"ITS Your Voice - Be Heard" at Radford University
Radford, VA
Mainstages:
Freaky Friday - Hickory High School, Troupe 5688
Bright Star: School Edition - Rock Ridge High School, Troupe 8104
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Tuscarora High School, Troupe 7925
​Keynote Speakers: Devon Glover & Jim Hoare
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year:
​Makala Witten - Christiansburg High School, Troupe 3070

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2018
"Once Upon a Conference" at Kellam High School
Virginia Beach, VA
Mainstages:
Chicago - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644
Antigone - Floyd E. Kellam High School, Troupe 2326
Nunsense - Fauquier High School, Troupe 4595
​Keynote Speaker: Valerie David
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: ​Cindy Kreicar - Grafton High School, Troupe 6001

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​2017
"ITS a Time Warp: Back to Theatre" at Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
Mainstages:
Ghost: The Musical - Rock Ridge High School, Troupe 8104
Crazytown - Christiansburg High School, Troupe 3070
Urinetown - First Colonial High School, Troupe 3178
The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon - Blacksburg High School, Troupe 3600
Teen Brain: The Musical - Great Bridge High School, Troupe 1532
"Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644

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2016
"Argh! ITS a Theatre Life for Me" at Radford University
Radford, VA
Mainstages:
Almost, Maine - Christiansburg High School, Troupe 3070
The Diary of Anne Frank - Goochland High School, Troupe 6704
Commencement - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644

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2015
"ITS All Greek to Me" at George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Mainstages:
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Virginia Beach All-City Production
The Importance of Being Earnest - Woodgrove High School, Troupe 7747
Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. - Hickory High School, Troupe 5688
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year:
​Victoria Kesling-Councill - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644

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2014
"ITS a Super Hero" at Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA
Mainstages:
Into the Woods - W. T. Woodson High School, Troupe 5787
Anything Goes - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644
Jungalbook - Grafton High School, Troupe 6001
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year:
John Brewington - Fine Arts Coordinator, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

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2013
"ITS a Secret Mission" at Longwood University
Farmville, VA
Mainstages:
Freckleface Strawberry - Hickory High School, Troupe 5688
​Flowers for Algernon - Floyd E. Kellam High School, Troupe 2326
Meet Me in the Stars - Manassas Park High School, Troupe 7169
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: Cam Richards - Guest Artist

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2012
"ITS Wild!" at George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Mainstages:
Cabaret - New Kent High School, Troupe 7644
Midsummer / Jersey - James W. Robinson Secondary School, Troupe 3380
Schoolhouse Rock Live! - Mount Vernon High School, Troupe 1779
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: Marla Wood - Hickory High School, Troupe 5688

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2011
"ITS a Masquerade" at Radford University
Radford, VA
Mainstages:
Rumplestiltskin - Floyd E. Kellam High School, Troupe 2326
Chicago - George C. Marshall High School, Troupe 2777
The Tell-Tale Heart - Colonial Heights High School, Troupe 3431
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: Ruth Wareham - Colonial Heights High School, Troupe 3431

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2010
"ITS Time!" at George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Mainstages:
Rumors - James W. Robinson Secondary School, Troupe 3380
Much Ado About Nothing - James Madison High School, Troupe 2541
Once On This Island Jr. - Hickory High School, Troupe 5688
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: Nancy Curtis - First Colonial High School, Troupe 3178

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2009
"iConference" at Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA
Mainstages:
I Hate Hamlet - Christopher Newport University
Footloose - W. T. Woodson High School, Troupe 5787
Anatomy of Gray - Hickory High School, Troupe 5688
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: Terri Hobson - W. T. Woodson High School, Troupe 5787

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2008
"There's No Place Like Conference" at Radford University
Radford, VA
Mainstages:
Alice in Wonderland - Floyd E. Kellam High School, Troupe 2326
The Servant of Two Masters - First Colonial High School, Troupe 3178
The Monster Tales - Fairfax High School, Troupe 4008
Virginia Thespian Educator of the Year: Tammy Smith - Floyd E. Kellam High School, Troupe 2326