Charles D. Owen High School (OHS) recently welcomed students from across North Carolina for this year’s North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC). The two-day event brought talented young performers together to showcase their acting, creativity, and technical theatre skills. 

For OHS, hosting the prestigious event was a special moment. The last time the school hosted NCTC was in the late 1990s, making this year’s return a milestone for the school’s theatre program. 

“This was a fantastic opportunity to bring people to the Owen campus and to let them see the wonderful space that we get to enjoy day in and day out,” said OHS Theatre teacher Lyn Nihart. “It was a really cool experience getting to meet students from other schools.”

The North Carolina Theatre Conference plays an important role in strengthening the state’s theatre industry by providing opportunities for students to develop their talents, collaborate with fellow performers, and gain valuable experience both on and off the stage. 

Representing Buncombe County Schools were talented theatre students from OHS and A.C. Reynolds High School (ACRHS). Both schools delivered impressive performances, earning recognition for their creativity, technical skills, and acting abilities. 

OHS received Excellence awards for Portrayal of Grief and Lighting Design and Operation. ACRHS earned Excellence awards for Use of Set Doubling and Space, and Lighting Design. 

Individual performers also took center stage, with Ayla Short of ACRHS and Nova Lamos of OHS, each receiving Excellence in Acting awards. 

Beyond the awards and performances, the conference provided an opportunity for students to connect with fellow theatre enthusiasts, celebrate the performing arts, and grow their passion for storytelling.