Plant Theatre Company truly lives by their motto, “Act Well Your Part,” taking the gold in multiple categories at the Hillsborough County ‘District 9’ Theatre festival and competition.
On Saturday, October 18th, 2025, Plant Theatre Company, PTC, entered this year’s ‘Florida Thespians’ with 35 events amongst 53 students repping the “Troupe 0817” t-shirts.
The Florida Thespians ‘District 9’ festival took place at Blake High School, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Judges from all over the county adjudicate hundreds of events, ranging from tech to musical performances. Tech entries include makeup, costumes and set design, as well as theatre marketing and stage management. For the students who love being in the spotlight, acts such as solo, duet and large group musical numbers along with solo and duet acting scenes are highly competitive.
Kids from all over the county spend months preparing, memorizing and practicing their events to win ‘Excellent’ or ‘Superior’ ratings, and become a member of the highly selective group ‘Top Honors’ which consists of perfect scores.
PTC’s ‘Advanced Musical Theatre’ students entered the festival with works of art in various categories and left feeling more than accomplished! 16 ‘Excellent’ ratings, 16 ‘Superior’ ratings and 3 ‘Top Honors/District Rep Nominees.’
Performance numbers such as the group Pantomime directed by Wellesley Eckhoff (11) and Phil Martin (11), Large Group Musical directed by Eve Anton (12) and a few ‘Solo Musicals’ and monologues such as Charlotte Godin (10) and Max McClung (11) gained a ‘Superior’ rating for Plant High School.
Tech events did not go underappreciated this year, as Plant High School took home multiple ‘Superiors’ and ‘Top Honors.’
‘Superiors’ in tech include Madden Moore (11) in ‘Theatre Marketing/Publicity’ and 3 “Top Honor Honors” for Gracie Hass (12) in makeup, with Emory Elwell (11) and Ava Hanano (12) in ‘Prop Construction.’
‘Superior’ and ‘Top Honors’ attend the “Florida State Thespian Festival” in March, with a select few receiving the honor to represent Plant High School, competing again at the state level.
Senior and ‘Top Honors’ recipient Ava Hanano expresses her experience at Thespians.
“I chose to construct one of the smaller versions of Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors,” Hanano said. “It took a lot of different steps to construct, paint and articulate it, but I think the whole project was worth it. It was amazing to watch my creation come to life and I am so glad that others loved it as much as I did.”
No stranger to the pressures of performing long, challenging dialogue onstage, Max McClung (11) shares the energy ‘Thespies’ bring to young aspiring actors.
“The best way I could describe competing at ‘Thespies’ would be exciting. It is an opportunity to demonstrate your skills and grow your ability,” McClung said.
Plant is celebrating its success on Instagram, showing a glimpse of the joy and supportive community that shines through when PTC students receive their scores on buttons labeled ‘Excellent’ and ‘Superior.’
Hanano reflects on her time with PTC as a senior competing in her last district ‘Thespies.’
Hanano said, “I am proud to represent PTC because I really think that we have built such a solid community especially over the past couple years. There are so many people that I have met though PTC that have become some of my best friends and some of the most important people in my life. I couldn’t be more grateful.”