Fourteen students from Abilene and Cooper high schools finished as top qualifiers at the Texas Thespian Festival in Grapevine, Nov. 17-19.

 Top qualifiers from Abilene High were Hope Fambrough (solo musical), Carrie Mercer (solo musical), Lillian Simpson (monologue), Anicia Salyers and Austin Escobedo (duet acting), and Callie Wright and Xandra Tanner (duet acting).

Top qualifiers from Cooper were Tivona Nguyen (costume design), Lily Kovac (solo musical), Kamonie Ford and Emily Whan (duet acting), and Alyssa del Castillo and Zoey Klohn (duet acting).

Each student at the festival – more than 10,000 from across the state – were required to participate in some type of event or competition. Students participated in technical design or performance-based events that measured their skills and provided them with instruction and constructive feedback.

Three of Abilene High’s graduating seniors auditioned for collegiate theatre programs through the Thespian Festival and will meet with them in person for follow-up interviews.

The Abilene High theatre program is led by director Kyle Martin, while Robert Taylor directs the Cooper program.