NJ jsto 

A  JSTO is a Junior State Thespian Officer in Grades 6, 7 or 8. Their main jobs are to help plan, manage, and host the New Jersey Junior Thespian Festival immediately following their election.
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​Additionally, the JSTO serve as the primary voice and advocate of NJ Junior Thespian students on the NJ Junior Thespian State Board. JSTO are given volunteer hours for their service to the International Thespian Society. 

Applications to be a JSTO are now closed. 
Applications will open in 2023.

Our previous 2020—2021 JSTO

ORI

2019-2021 JSTO

Ori is thrilled to be a JSTO this year because of the awesome people she gets to surround herself with. Ori is in 8th grade and attends Ocean Township Intermediate School in Ocean Township New Jersey. In school, Ori participates in activities including: Forensics club, Hope club, and the school newspaper. In the community she does community theatre and tutors. Ori’s hobbies are writing, self teaching herself languages, and journaling. Her favorite musical is Mamma Mia. Ori cannot wait for Jr. Thes Fest 2020 because she’s so excited to be able to learn from the best workshop teachers.
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margaret

2021 JSTO

Margaret (Maggie) is honored to be a JSTO this year because theatre is an important part of her life. Maggie is in eighth grade and attends Ocean Township Intermediate School in Ocean, New Jersey.  In school, Maggie participates in activities including: Forensics, drama club, band, and field hockey. She also has an acting and directing elective class this semester. In the community Maggie is involved with her church’s youth group. She is also a Red Cross trained babysitter. Maggie’s hobbies are photography, surfing, and making short movies. Her favorite musical is Annie. Maggie cannot wait for Jr. Thes Fest 2021 because enjoys teaching. She is excited to help other Thespians learn more about the theater arts.

kayla

2021 JSTO

Kayla Brown is excited to be a JSTO this year because she loves meeting new people!  Kayla is in 8th grade and attends Eisenhower Middle School in Freehold, New Jersey.  In school, Kayla participates in activities including: Drama club, student government, and debate team. In the community she participates in community theatre and lacrosse. Kayla’s hobbies are singing and playing lacrosse. Her favorite musical is Wicked. Kayla cannot wait for Jr. Thes Fest 2020 because she cannot wait to play swag, new games with fellow students.

joseph

2019-2021 JSTO

Joey is looking forward to being a JSTO again this year because of the success and his time well spent on the board last year. He is in 8th grade and attends Russel O'Brackman Middle School in Barnegat, NJ. In school, Joey participates in activities including: Drama, Vocal Ensemble, National Jr. Honor Society, Interact, Student government, and soccer. He strives to make his community a better place with one helping hand at a time through service projects. His hobbies are singing/acting, writing songs in his free time, staying fit and hanging out with friends. The answer to his favorite musical is "There are too many good ones to choose from." He is enlightened and cannot wait for Virtual Jr. Thes Fest 2021 because he truly believes a day doing what we all love will light up the darkness we are all still facing in these unprecedented times. 

meghna

2021 JSTO

Meghna is excited to be a JSTO this year because she really wants to meet people who share the same passion as her such as theatre. Meghna is in 8th grade and attends Eisenhower Middle School in Freehold, New Jersey.  In school,  Meghna participates in activities including: National Junior Honor Society, Stardust, Student Government, Drama, PBS Ambassadors, Cabaret Club, Zumba, Peer Leaders, Tri M Music Honor Society, and Baking Club. In the community she uses the power of music to help out where she can.  Meghna’s  hobbies are singing, dancing, and acting. Her favorite musical is 13 the Musical.  Meghna cannot wait for Jr. Thes Fest 2020 because she is excited to see so many drama kids show off their talents to a big audience.  

meet the past jsto mentors

JSTO Mentors are Student Thespian Officers from high school who mentor the middle school JSTO throughout the year. They run and manage meetings and are true mentors for the students. 
MIKEY
JSTO MENTOR
Michael “Mikey” Tresvalles is thrilled to be a part of the 2020-21 STO
Board, where he proudly represents Troupe #7455 from Toms River High
School North.
ELLIOT
JSTO MENTOR
Elliot Block is a student (2022) at Hopewell Valley Central High School, troupe 7964, and is stoked to be an STO! He is looking forward to making new friends and having a wonderful year serving New Jersey Thespians!
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GIA
JSTO MENTOR
GIA is a 2021 STO Mentor. 

Past nj junior state thespian officers:

2019-2020 JSTO
Lindsay Berliner- Ranney School 
Araiya Casriel- Ranney School
Grace Hager- Oak Hill Academy
Joseph Novitsky- Russell O. Brackman
Ori Rosmarin- Ocean Township Intermediate
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2018-2019 JSTO
Michael Guiliano- Ranney School, Grade 8
Olivia Henein- Dwight D. Eisenhower, Grade 8
Amrik Krishnakumar- Dwight D. Eisenhower, Grade 8
Shreeya Mehta- Dwight D. Eisenhower, Grade 8
Kiri Patient- Ranney School, Grade 8 
2017-2018 Inaugural JSTO were Kayleigh A. Cahill, Joseph Martinez, Sanjana Iyer, Kiri Patient, and Maya Jacoby. 

apply to be a jsto

Calling all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. JSTO applications are now open. 
  • Do you like to be in positions of leadership?
  • Do you just absolutely love theatre?
  • Wanna help plan the 2024 festival?
  • Then being a JSTO is for you.

​Applications will open in 2023.

JSTOs are required to attend festival planning meetings, and will earn volunteer hours for their service. All meetings are held via Zoom or in-person. To learn more about eligibility, please read the archived JSTO application packet found here.