From one thespian troupe to another

With tears, smiles, and gratitude, the Friends of PHS Performing Arts and everyone affiliated with the PHS Theatre Program would like to publicly recognize Thespian Troupe 6325 and Theatre Department at Blue Valley West High School under the direction of Laurie Vanderpool.

The school's annual Theatre Olympics production, held a week ago, raised $649, and all of it was donated to the Derek Brumbaugh Scholarship at Pittsburg High School. 

Blue Valley West Senior Clayton Henriksen reached out to our Friends group on Facebook after learning of Derek’s death and the scholarship fund that had been established in his name.

“I speak for our whole department when I say our hearts are breaking for you and the whole Pittsburg community. We were all very sad to hear of Derek’s death. We loved him in ‘Band Geeks’ at State,” he wrote.

Every year in May, the BVW Theatre Department hosts a variety show and competes in teams to raise money for several charities.

“It consists of games, scenes, and goofy songs,” Vanderpool said.

This year, Henriksen and other students proposed that they instead raise money for the scholarship fund.

"We were glad to do this," Vanderpool said, "from one Thespian troupe to another in Kansas. Your loss is our loss."

— Andra Stefanoni
Friends of PHS Performing Arts