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Students, teachers highlighted during Theater in Our Schools Month; district to upgrade Black Box venue
Summary
Board members recognized student thespian achievements, including Topeka High’s Hadestown production at state and students qualifying for international festival; staff said they plan a Martha Herrick Black Box Theater renovation to create more performance space.
Topeka Public Schools used its board meeting platform to mark Theater in Our Schools Month and highlight student achievements from Topeka High, Topeka West and Highland Park.
District fine‑arts staff introduced students who described recent accomplishments: Topeka High’s production of Hadestown advanced to the Kansas Thespian Festival and performed before roughly 1,700 attendees, and five Topeka High students advanced to the International Thespian Festival. Topeka West reported a record 10 students qualifying for that international festival, and a staff member said Richard Johnson earned a Future Theater Educator Scholarship. The students described advocacy day at the state capitol, workshops they hosted for other troupes and local performances such as Frozen Junior and upcoming spring shows.
District theater staff said they plan to convert a former lower shop into the Martha Herrick Black Box Theater to increase performance opportunities for students across schools, including music and choral groups. The technical director at Topeka High said the space is cleared and ready for construction paperwork, and the project is awaiting paperwork to proceed.
Why it matters: student speakers stressed theater’s role in student belonging, leadership and career exploration; staff emphasized equity and outreach — Topeka High was cited as the first TPS Title I school to reach state and as the first TPS troupe to do so.
Board members congratulated students and recognized the work of teachers and technical staff. The board also read a proclamation recognizing arts month and previewed student performances and art displays that accompany the month’s events.
