Jesuit’s Philelectic Society traveled to Natchitoches to compete in the Louisiana State Thespian Festival, joining theatre students from across the state for a weekend dedicated to performance, collaboration, and storytelling.

The Phils represented Jesuit with distinction, earning numerous Superior ratings, the festival’s highest honor, across a wide range of performance and technical categories. Students recognized with Superior ratings include:

• Senior Nate Costantini – “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”
• Senior Keshaun Tervalon – “The Three Musketeers”
• Senior Everett Kramer & sophomore Joey Bertucci – “Spamalot”
• Leah Gilmore (Dominican) – “Screw Loose”
• Cece Wanko (Dominican) & Scarlett Beasley (Ursuline) – “Something in the Macaroni and Cheese Bowl Moved”
• Junior Ford Mollere & sophomore Thomas Hughes – “Guys and Dolls”
• Junior Liam Van Vrancken – “What Do I Need With Love”
• Ella Grace Francis – “I’m Not Afraid of Anything”
• Sophomore Rhys Sanchez – Stage Management – “Falsettos”
• Ensemble Musical Number – “Run, Freedom, Run!”
  Keshaun Tervalon [soloist], Nate Costantini, Ford Mollere, Thomas Hughes, Liam Van Vrancken, Kaden Fennidy, freshman Evan Offner, junior James Vaicius, Ava Leger (Cabrini), Laura Toomer (Mt.Carmel), Ella Grace Francis, Cece Wanko, Scarlett Beasley, Lucienne Daigle (Mt. Carmel), Sarah Cambre (Mt.Carmel), and Leah Gilmore.

In addition to individual and group honors, two performances were selected for the festival’s prestigious main stage showcase: “Run, Freedom, Run!” and “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”

The weekend’s crowning achievement came when the Philelectic Society’s Chapter Select production, a 45-minute performance of Sondheim on Sondheim, was chosen to represent Louisiana at the International Thespian Festival this June.

The powerhouse cast includes Nate Costantini, Keshaun Tervalon, Ford Mollere, Thomas Hughes, Liam Van Vrancken, Leah Gilmore, Ella Grace Francis, Lucienne Daigle, Laura Toomer, and Mia Long (Mt. Carmel), with stage management by sophomores Rhys Sanchez and Kaden Fennidy.

Under the direction of Patrick Cragin ’06, Lights & Technical Director D.J. Galiano ’07, Costume Designer Judy Beaman, Musical Director Matthew Wolff ’13, and Choreographer Arianna D’ Antonio, the Philelectic Society’s success is a testament to the power of theatre to build confidence, discipline, and community.