Coal City Theatre earns top spot in State Finals

The Coal City Theatre Department received first place in the Musical Theatre division of the 2026 Illinois High School Association [IHSA] Drama State Series.
The Musical Theatre program at the IHSA Drama State Series is an art form that combines the skills of acting, singing and dancing and encourages creativity. This event lets up to six students present a 10-minute musical review with selections from a published score written for musical theatre.
Coal City was notified in mid-March that it had been selected as one of the Top 12 schools in the Musical Theatre division. On March 28, the top six performances were announced during a ceremony at Reavis High School in Burbank.
Placing behind Coal City were Bartlett, Addison Trail, Waubonsee Valley, Wharton Warrenville South and Hinsdale South, all schools with much bigger enrollments.
Coal City submitted The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to the competition. The six students participating in the video submission were Theo Fritz, Jordan Olson, Olivia Sage, Mason Hamilton, Isabella Byers and Lexi Dearth.
The theatre department presented the full musical in January, a production that featured a cast of 19 students and was directed by Jack Micetich.
This was the first year the Coal City Theatre Department has participated in the IHSA state competition.
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the state-wide contest and be recognized alongside wonderful theater programs from across the state. I am always so proud of our students,” Micetich said.