District 207 students selected for All-State Theatre Company performance of ‘Disney’s Newsies’
District 207 has shared that two students from Maine West High School and one student from Maine East High School were selected through a competitive audition to join the cast and crew of the Illinois Theatre Association’s 2026 All-State Company. Their achievement reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to excellence in the performing arts.
The 2026 Illinois High School Theatre Festival, the largest and oldest noncompetitive high school theater festival in the nation, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, presented “Disney’s Newsies” as its 2026 All-State production. “Newsies” was presented through arrangement with Musical Theatre International and highlighted a select ensemble of the top high school actors, technicians and musicians from throughout the state of Illinois.
“The 2026 Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State production of ‘Newsies’ powerfully embodies the festival theme: ‘Honoring our Past; Celebrating our Future,’” All-State Director and teacher at Addison Trail High School Anna McSweeney said. “’Newsies’ illuminates the forgotten struggles of young heroes who seized their moment, while celebrating a future where every voice, no matter how small, can ignite monumental change.”
Of the 518 talented students who auditioned and interviewed to be a part of ‘Newsies,’ 123 were selected for the final production company. The final production included cast members, crew members and pit orchestra musicians.
Those selected from District 207 include:
• Mateo Cruz of Maine West High School, 11th grade, will be playing Nunzio, a guard and a police officer
• Ray Copeland of Maine West High School, 12th grade, is a member of the technical crew
• Meira Reid of Maine East High School, 12th grade, will be playing Darcy and is a member of the ensemble
“I couldn’t be more proud of our students for representing District 207 in this incredible production,” Maine East Fine Arts Department Chair Sarah Djordjevic said. “It’s exciting to know that their hard work and talent will be shared with and celebrated by thousands of students across the state.”
Rehearsals for “Newsies” took place over several long weekends during the Fall of 2025, with final rehearsals occurring the last week before the actual performances. The performance was a closed event for participants of the Illinois High School Theatre Festival only. This year’s performance venue was the Braden Auditorium at Illinois State University and ran Jan. 8-10.