SHS Drama Students Take Top Honor at ITF 2025

Southmoore High School drama students made history before school was out in May with an invitation to perform and compete during the 2025 International Thespian Festival (ITF) held June 22-28 at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. 

SHS took a top honor and was named the Oklahoma Chapter Select One-Act Showcase winner at the closing ceremony.

SHS Drama Teacher Brooke Perez and her students spent months working to earn the $60,000 it took to attend all week. 

I am so proud of this wonderful group of students’ accomplishments this year. They earned every bit of the awards they brought home from this prestigious competition. 

 - Brooke Perez, SHS Drama Teacher 

Perez said their fundraising was made possible through the hard work of not only her students but also their parents, community partners and gifts from private donors. With the funds in hand, the SHS troupe took their Chapter Select show to the competition as the first-ever high school to represent Oklahoma.

"We were excited for the honor to represent Southmoore, Moore Public Schools and Oklahoma in the Chapter Select One-Act Showcase. My students gave a phenomenal performance for a sold-out audience," said Perez.

Additionally, SHS 2025 graduates Evelyn Brown and Gabriel Ferrell competed in the Solo Musical Theatre category, which had over 450 participants. They were two of approximately 150 students who received a superior rating for their individual events. They were also recognized during the closing ceremony.  

Also at the festival, SHS junior Savannah Robinson was selected as a writer for the 24-Hour Plays. In this event, within 24 hours, she was responsible for writing, assisting with casting, directing and rehearsing a 20-minute play which was then performed.

Learn more about the annual ITF here and about Southmoore High School here.