Fabius-Pompey students attend NYSTEA Student Conference

The New York State Theatre Education Association, a strong, statewide organization of theatre educators, promotes and supports theatre education for students in grades pre-K through 12. On the weekend of January 9-11, 2026, NYSTEA welcomed nearly 900 students to its 29th Annual Student Conference at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, New York.

This conference creates an opportunity for high school students from all over New York State to come together for a full weekend of learning and peer interaction. These students attended workshops given by colleges, universities and other theatre professionals, as well as networking with one another and experiencing a variety of performances throughout the conference.

For the Student Conference delegates, this conference is a highlight of their high school career. In the over 100 workshop offerings, students received expert instruction in technical theatre, acting, dance, voice, and more. Meeting and sharing interests with other similarly-minded students from every region of the state is paramount in working collaboratively, gaining self-confidence and exploring new areas of learning. This conference is a testament to how “theatre transforms students’ lives!”

This will be the thirteenth year that Fabius-Pompey has sent representatives to the NYSTEA Student Conference. Alexandria Berhow, Eve Crouse, Katelyn Cummings, Adelaide Curtis, Lily Curtis, Abigail MacPherson, and Aleigha Morales-Doupe had a wonderful time and learned a great deal. Eve was selected through an audition process to perform in a Special Student Showcase in front of the entire conference on Saturday night. Their participation was made possible by generous donations from APTS, FOPA, the SEI Design Group, and Watchdog Building Partners.

NYSTEA believes that theatre is an essential component of a pre-K-12 education for all students. Studying theatre in schools develops abilities needed for the 21st century including critical thinking, problem solving skills, applications of technology, social responsibility and creativity. In addition to the annual Student Conference, NYSTEA provides resources to educators teaching theatre in the classroom, directing school drama and musical presentations, and hosts professional learning opportunities for teachers throughout the year.

View the NYSTEA press release