Every year, a group of Blue Valley drama students have the opportunity to go to Drama Con, a conference held in Wichita, Kan. for high school students interested in acting, tech and musicals to explore new areas and techniques that help them to grow their skill set. Area schools whose shows qualified for State perform in the evenings, and students attend sessions that range from African dance to improvisation theory during the day. Other activities include charades, a tech competition, a dance and a silent auction.
This year at the Kansas State Thespian Conference, the BV Fifth Wall team placed fourth in the statewide competition. The State team consisted of team leader junior Jefferson Harwood, and members sophomores Lauren Browning, Sam Kalmus, Zach Miller and senior Calum Fletcher. 
Kalmus said he felt good about the team’s performance at State.
“I feel like we did very well for having a predominantly sophomore team,” he said. “We made the most of the suggestions we had and just had a good time.”
Harwood said the team has been working very hard over the past few months and has already set big goals for next year.
“I am hoping to beat our fourth place this year and hopefully return to our State title because we will have one more year of experience going into the competition,” he said.
Kalmus said he hopes to win the State title next year and really enjoyed Drama Con.
“Altogether, it was an amazing experience that gets better every year and helps me grow as a performer in many ways,” he said.
Harwood said he loves Drama Con because it is a great chance to grow as a performer.
“It is the highlight of my new year every year,” he said. “I get to see some amazing shows and go to wonderful sessions that teach me new methods and varieties of acting. I get to do all of this with lifelong friends and make new ones. Overall, it is a great experience even if our dream was not accomplished this year.”