Traveling, performing, and practicing sums up the theater students’ summer as they put a wrap on summer and start the school year.

After the performance of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” towards the end of last school year, Jordan DeLeon, junior, went on to the Blue Star awards on May 25 as a nominee for best ensemble member.

Blue Star is a group at Starlight Theater who gives awards such as best show, best ensemble member, best appearance and others to theater groups and specific students around the Kansas City area.

DeLeon didn’t win best ensemble member, but his friends said that he is a great performing partner.

“I’m surprised that Jordan didn’t get the award, but him getting nominated was a big deal for him,” Jaimeson Satterfield, senior, said.

As the summer continued six theater students hit the road and headed for the Internation Thespian Festival at the University of Lincoln-Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., from June 19-25.

Brittany Taylor, Chase Simmons, Catherine Walker, seniors; Ryan Hicks, Jacob Johnston, and Isaiah Reasby, graduates, were the students who went to thee 2017 festival.

While there, Taylor, Simmons and Walker all had the opportunity to sing a song together, “I’ve Decided to Marry You” from “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” in front of several judges.

Simmons also had the opportunity to sing a solo, “This Nearly Was Mine” from “South Pacific” in front of college representatives and his peers while at the conference.

“Performing at the conference was cool and a great experience,” Simmons said.

After these six students got back in town, there was no time wasted as the theater department started preparing for this fall’s new play “Trap.”

“We have been working on ‘Trap’ over the summer, but we haven’t done much with it yet, but we’re excited for this one,” Satterfield said.

“It’s going to be a busy but fun and great year for the theater department just as it always is,” Satterfield said.