Shaw chosen as inductee to 2021 Kansas Thespian Hall of Fame

Kansas Thespians, a chapter of the Educational Theatre Association, has announced that Pittsburg High School Theatre Director Greg Shaw is being inducted into the 2021 Kansas Thespian Hall of Fame.

On Friday, a drive-by parade to recognize the honor will be held for Shaw at his home, where he is receiving care after last year being diagnosed with Glioblastoma. 

Shaw, who has taught at PHS for 13 years, continued directing last year as long as he was able before taking a leave of absence this fall. His dedication to the program was honored this summer with the International Thespian Society’s Spirit of Thespis Award.

“This honor is bestowed to individuals who strive for excellence in theatre education, go above and beyond expectations in developing a theatre program of excellence, and have impacted Kansas Thespians in amazing ways,” said Jennifer Morgan Beuchat, a member of the Kansas Thespians state board of directors. “We’re proud to announce Greg Shaw as an inductee.”

Under his direction, PHS Theatre has grown in scope, number of productions, and audience size, and has been invited to perform on the main stage at the State Thespian Festival and the International Thespian Festival a combined four times in the last five years.

Since 2008, the program has also produced a full range of social issue plays with themes that represent realities that face youth every day, including teen suicide, school violence, eating disorders, and more, earning both state and national recognition as the Kansas NEA Human and Civil Rights Award and as a Promising Practices by the Character Education Partnership. 

The PHS Theatre program has been recognized with more than 40 Jester Awards since 2016, including Best Direction of Show for Shrek, Seussical, and Little Mermaid.

Shaw, who earned his degree from Pittsburg State University, has served on the Kansas Thespians Board of Directors and the Pittsburg Community Theatre Board of Directors. In 2017, he was named an honorary mention as a finalist for the Excellence In Theatre Education Award sponsored by The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University.
​
He and his wife, Dr. Angela Shaw, have two daughters, McKenna and Marley, who also are active in the performing arts. They are residents of Pittsburg.