Plano Independent School District students delivered an impressive showing at the 2025 Texas Thespian State Festival, earning top honors, multiple awards and national qualifications across a wide range of theatre disciplines. The annual festival, one of the largest and most competitive student theatre events in the country, brought together thousands of high school performers from across Texas to showcase their skills in acting, musical theatre, technical design and ensemble performance.

Students from all three Plano ISD clusters — Central, East and West — participated in the multi-day event, competing in dozens of individual and group categories while also attending workshops led by industry professionals. Their success reflects the depth of talent across the district and the continued strength of Plano ISD’s theatre education programs.

Central Cluster Delivers Strong Results

Plano Senior High School, Clark High School and Vines High School represented the Central Cluster, with students entering more than 20 performance and technical events. Competitors earned superior ratings and recognition in categories including musical theatre solos, monologues, duet acting, costume design and prop construction. Several students qualified for the national festival, marking a major milestone in their artistic development.

East Cluster Students Earn National Qualifications

Plano East Senior High School, McMillen High School and Williams High School led the East Cluster’s participation, earning multiple state-level awards and national advancements. Students impressed judges with polished vocal performances, confident acting technique and strong collaborative scene work. Judges praised the group’s preparation and storytelling skills, noting the high level of professionalism shown on stage.

West Cluster Makes History

The West Cluster — made up of Plano West Senior High School, Jasper High School and Shepton High School — also delivered standout performances, earning numerous awards across acting, musical theatre and technical theatre categories. Plano West reached a historic milestone when its production of Six: The Musical – Teen Edition was selected as the festival’s Closing Mainstage Performance, an honor reserved for only one production statewide each year. This marked the first time Plano West has received this distinction.

Recognition Beyond Performance

In addition to performance awards, Plano ISD students earned leadership recognitions, ensemble honors and scholarships for their excellence in both artistic and technical fields. Judges highlighted strong vocal control, stage presence, creativity and teamwork as defining qualities of Plano ISD’s performers. Technical theatre students were also recognized for precision and innovation in lighting, sound, set and costume design.

Celebrating Arts Education in Plano

The Texas Thespian State Festival serves as a major benchmark for high school theatre programs, offering students the opportunity to compete at a high level while connecting with peers from across the state. For Plano ISD, the results reflect a district-wide commitment to arts education, creative expression and student growth both on and off the stage.

As students prepare for the national competition and future performances, their achievements at the state level stand as a testament to the dedication of Plano ISD educators and the power of theatre to build confidence, discipline and storytelling skills that extend far beyond the spotlight.