Owings Mills Resident Wins Big at Maryland Thespian Festival

Owings Mills resident Virginia Bonsal, a junior at Jemicy School, also in Owings Mills, made an impressive showing and earned numerous awards recently at the Maryland State Thespian Festival. She qualified for the Nationals in two categories (1) Safer, Solo Musical Theatre and (2) The Crucible, Group Scene Performance. She was also awarded in Outstanding Production and Outstanding Physical Work categories for her portrayal of Claire in Proof. As a National qualifier, she also earned a Showcase spot in the closing ceremony.

Bonsal, along with 12 other talented students from Jemicy’s International Thespian Society Troupe #8269 under the direction of Jemicy’s Upper School theatre arts teacher Sean Elias, made history – not only by attending the Maryland State Thespian Festival for the first time, but also for the impressive accolades and recognition they received.

During this two-day theatre competition, more than 700 high school students from across the state competed in individual events, took workshops, observed one-act performances, and enjoyed other festival-wide events.

Jemicy’s first Festival attendees racked up an amazing list of distinctions – sweeping the board with awards (Outstanding Production, Outstanding Physical Work, Best Actor, Best Actress), recognition, most represented school, earning 3 of 5 spots for this Closing Ceremony; and 8 students qualifying for Nationals at the weeklong International Thespian Festival in June at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Proof, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, is a passionate, intelligent story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.

The students will perform the full version of Proof on Friday and Saturday, February 10 & 11 at 8 p.m. at Jemicy’s Tomlinson Theater.