Meet the Current Alabama State Thespian Officers
Ro Barnett
Ro Barnett is a senior and happy to be representing Troupe #10423 on the Festival Team this year! This is her first year serving as an STO. Since a young age, she has loved theatre and acted in many shows, but recently found her passion in stage management. She hopes that she can help guide and influence others to discover their places in the theatre world, especially technical theatre. She believes that theatre is a beautiful art because it can only be created through people coming together with the common goal of making something great. Her favorite show to stage manage was Little Women in fall 2022, and her favorite show to work crew for was The Little Mermaid in winter 2023. You can find her on Instagram at @robarnett_sto. She’s looking forward to helping plan an amazing Festival!
Rebecca Cook
Rebecca is apart of the Advocacy and Outreach Team. She is a Junior at Vestavia Hills High School. This is her first year being an Alabama State Thespian Officer. She is a Thespian in Troupe #1437. She loves to sing and act in productions, her favorite production has been The Little Prince. She hopes to major in Theatre Education in the future. She is a huge advocate for arts education funding and recognition. Instagram: rebecca_sto1437
Kamari LeGree
Kamari LeGree is serving on the Advocacy and Outreach Team this year! This is her first year as an Alabama State Thespian Officer and she is very grateful to be serving the Thespians of Alabama! She is a Senior at Charles Henderson High School and represents Troupe #6286 proudly! Kamari has been involved in the performing arts since she could talk and she is tremendously passionate about theatre education. She feels as though theatre is a space where everyone can express themselves and feel a sense of belonging. She is mostly involved in acting, singing, and playing in the Blue Machine Band at her school. Her first role in a production was Little Inez in Hairspray and her favorite role to play was Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. She’s looking forward to advocating for theatre education as well as reaching out to several communities with the potential to spread the love surrounding performing arts as a whole! She’s excited for Alabama Thespian Festival 2024! Instagram: @klegree_sto
Julia Marshall
Julia Marshall is a Senior at Hillcrest High School,Troupe #5647, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is the President of Troupe #5647 (@hillcresthightheatre) and is proud to serve in her second year as an Alabama STO! Julia started acting in community theatre productions when she was 5 years old, and has been involved ever since. Some of her favorite roles have been “Ms. Bucket” in Willy Wonka, “Laura Jane Kirk” in Band Geeks, “Rosalind” in As You Like It, and “Hermia” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also enjoys doing crew,with experience in lighting crew, assistant stage managing, and student directing. Julia believes theatre has been a tremendously positive contribution to her life and she is excited to continue helping give theatrical opportunities and experiences to other high schoolers across the state. She’s thrilled to be serving on the 2023-2024 STO Outreach and Advocacy Team! Follow her on Instagram at @juliakmarshalll!
Mari Miller
Mari is serving on the Social Media Team this year! This is her first year as an Alabama STO, and she is excited to grow her skills in leadership over this coming year. She is a Senior at Mountain Brook High School, and the President of Thespian Troupe #533. She is very active in both the acting side and tech sides of theatre, bringing a versatile perspective to community discussions. She hopes to pursue a career in acting to further explore her passion! Mari prides herself on being able to build trust between herself and other troupe members in order to make theatre a safe space for everybody, and is very excited to bring more community and support to thespian troupes all across the state! Instagram: @marim_533
Rachel Simmons
Rachel Simmons is serving as an Alabama State Thespian Officer on the Festival Team for the first time. She is a Junior at Vestavia Hills High School and was the 10th grade rep for Troupe #1437 last year. She has been an active participant in theatre at her school since the 6th grade. In 6th and 7th grade she was an actor but switched to the world of tech in 8th grade as a costumer. Since then she has fallen in love with stage management after doing it for the first time during Anastasia her Freshman year. She believes theatre is a wonderful environment that everyone deserves a chance to be a part of. Theatre education has provided her with pathways into all kinds of life experiences and opportunities that she never could have imagined. You can find her on Instagram @sto_rachel1437. She can’t wait for the journey this year will bring!
Finley Stephenson
Finley Stephenson is serving on the Social Media Team! This is her first year as an Alabama State Thespian Officer. She is a Sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School, Troupe #1437. She is so excited and grateful to serve the thespians of Alabama! Finley has spent her life around theatre and enjoys working sound and stage managing shows! Finley loves the amazing community that theatre education brings. She believes everyone should have access to theatre education since it’s filled with kind, and accepting people. Finley’s passion is theatre and she hopes to find a career as a sound engineer. Outside of theatre, she is apart of the marching band as an alto saxophone player. Her favorite crew position was sound assistant for Mamma Mia and she’s very excited to learn stage management this year! She is so excited for Alabama Thespian Festival 2024! You can find her on Instagram @FinleyS.STO!
Savannah Sumner
Savannah Sumner is thrilled to be on the Festival Team for her first year as an Alabama State Thespian Officer! Savannah previously served as a Junior State thespian officer and as Historian for Troupe #89345 at the Academy For Academics and Arts. She is a freshman at Lee High School in the Technical Theatre Magnet! Savannah has been participating in theatre for about 8 years, both onstage and off. Her personal favorite theatre roles include Ensemble in 13!, Stage Manager for Godspell, and Dromio of Ephesus in Shakespeare’s The Comedy Of Errors. When she is not in rehearsal, she practices dance at Alabama Youth Ballet, spends time with her family and friends, and continues to grow her vinyl collection. Theatre education has been a part of Savannah’s life since she was in first grade, and she strongly believes everyone should get the opportunity to take a theatre class because theatre has changed her life. She wants to thank her family, friends, and mentors for always being there to support her throughout her theatre journey, she couldn’t do it without you! Instagram: @savannah_alsto
Simon Tsikalas
Simon Tsikalas is thrilled to be on the Social Media Team for the Alabama STO board his junior year after serving as Student Social Media Manager/Producer for James Clemens High School’s theatre department since his freshman year. Favorite acting credits include Seymour in Little Shop Of Horrors, Freddy/Tommy u/s in Carrie, Officer Barrel in Urinetown, plus ensemble roles in Rent, Newsies, and The Light In The Piazza. Apart from theatre (although semi-related), Simon has a massive interest in music having taken voice lessons for 4 years and teaching himself guitar along with piano. He also enjoys long walks and coffee. As STO he hopes to spread awareness about the importance of theatre in schools and student-led programs. He thanks everyone who has helped him get where he is today. Instagram: simont.sto