Senior Wyatt Angell is an officer for the Kansas State Thespian Board, serving as the social media chair.
“I’m responsible for a lot of communications, because a lot of it comes in through direct messages (DMs) on social media,” Angell said. “I make sure to publicize all of these events.”
As the social media chair, Angell has made it a goal to spread awareness about other theater programs by interviewing them on social media.
“I started a program called the troupe highlight program, where we choose a random school from Kansas that submits, and we give them a highlight for a month,” Angell said.
To become a state thespian officer (STO), Angell campaigned at the Kansas Thespian Festival during his sophomore year.
“I ran for a few different elections for our executive board here and for student council, and I actually lost all of those,” Angell said. “But I decided to try to come back to leadership my sophomore year, and now I am a two term state thespian officer.”
Angell and other STOs meet up at a retreat in June to prepare for future festivals.
Sophomore William Howe said Angell is focused on his work and gives advice to other members.
“He is always representing our troupe and looking out for us,” Howe said. “That gives them some more responsibility of not just representing our troupe, but representing theater in Kansas as a whole.”
As an STO, Angell has made connections to Kansas legislators while running Advocacy Day, which encourages student participation in the government.
“We (STO’s) go talk with our legislators,”Angell said. “And we get to speak with the governor and advocate for fully funding theater and theater education and fully funding our public schools”.
Angell said balancing multiple leadership roles can be complicated.
“One of the more difficult parts is the fact that I’m also the treasurer for our troupe and our regular Drama Club board,” Angell said. “You just need to be willing to admit when you can’t handle everything.”
Angell has been participating in theater for 10 years. He has a deep connection with theater arts, as his brother, Spencer Angell, was a former STO.
“My family was very involved, because he was very involved,” Angell said. “I sold tickets and helped run concessions a few times as a kid. This theater has always really had a special place for me.”
Angell said how his thoughts and feelings about theater have evolved over time.
“My experience has really just sort of evolved,” Angell said. ”Growing up being a senior versus being like a tiny freshman in the back of the ensemble. It’s just been really great.”
