East Panhandle Times

High school students from the area are actively participating in Theatre in Our Schools (TIOS) Month this March, emphasizing the value of theater programs in educational settings. Students from Martinsburg High School and Spring Mills High School joined those at Hedgesville High School to discuss the significance of TIOS.

The group included Kianna Rogers and Leila Allen from Hedgesville, Taylor VanCamp and Preston Russell from Martinsburg, and Julia Stedman and Adrianna Hykes from Spring Mills. The initiative was led by Rogers, who is the social media manager for the Hedgesville High School Theater Department.

Rogers explained that after discussions with her theater teacher Kelli Cooper and other drama officers, they decided to organize a gathering with representatives from different high schools to share their experiences with theater. "It’s really exciting because as far as I know, we’ve never done this before," Rogers said. "This is a chance to get together outside of competition because of something we’re all passionate about."

For these students, TIOS provides an opportunity to showcase their dedication to theater, which often doesn't receive as much attention as sports or other activities. Allen noted that theater offers a supportive environment where she can be herself without judgment. "It’s a place to get away from the stress," she said.

Hykes shared her long-standing involvement in theater since third grade, inspired by her father. She emphasized that it allows her to express herself uniquely. Stedman added that theater enables participants to explore different personas and fosters a sense of community.

VanCamp and Russell highlighted how theater has helped them become more open and communicative. VanCamp recounted her initial reluctance towards theater but eventually grew fond of it through friendships and experiences.

The students invite the community to attend their upcoming performances: Hedgesville High School will present “The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree” on April 3-5; Spring Mills High School will stage “Twelfth Night” on April 9-13; and Martinsburg High School will perform “Beetlejuice Jr.” on May 9-10 at the Apollo Civic Theatre.