Tri-School Theatre students participated in the CA Thespian State Festival in March. The festival is the theatre equivalent of CIF.

California Thespians is the state level organization of the International Thespian Society, an honor society for high school theatre students and a division of the Educational Theatre Association.

Connelly sophomore Hannah Butler received a "Superior" ranking for her duet acting scene with Melia Gonzalez, a Tri-School student from Rosary. This ranking of "Superior" makes Hannah and Melia eligible to go on to the next level and compete at the International Thespian Festival in June, if they choose to attend the festival. Tri-School Theatre student Gregory Jenn of Servite also attended the event.

Hannah and 12 other teens from Orange County and their teachers joined a statewide delegation at the Capitol in Sacramento March 12 for tours, meetings with their legislators, performances and workshops with theater professionals, while advocating for theater education in schools. More than 200 students from across California gathered at the Capitol for the 16th annual event.

The students were chosen to attend based on their strong performances in local theater competitions and productions and/or because of essays they wrote. Hannah was selected in February as the winner of the California Youth in Theatre Day Advocacy Essay Contest. It was the second consecutive year that a young woman from Connelly has won this award. Senior Nicole Rickard won last year. During the Youth in Theatre Day opening events, Hannah was introduced by CA Youth in Theatre Day founder Gai Jones, and Hannah read her award-winning theatre advocacy essay to the entire delegation. She also read the essay at the California Museum during a State PTA luncheon honoring the arts in education.

The three Tri-School students were featured in the debut edition of the Orange County Register's OCVARSITY ARTS section on March 17. (Be sure and click on "MORE PHOTOS.")

Hannah wrote: "What struck me most about the two hours I spent in a room full of adult theater supporters was that there is a large group of people across the state fighting for the arts so I can have the opportunity to keep pursuing what I love."