York Community High School sophomore Ava Turek has earned a spot in one of Illinois’ most competitive and celebrated musical theater events.
This January, Ava will take the stage at Illinois State University as part of the 2026 Illinois High School Theater Festival (IHSTF) All-State Production of Newsies. Presented by the Illinois Theater Association, the All-State show is the highlight of the annual festival, which brings together high school students from across Illinois for a week of performances, workshops, masterclasses, and networking opportunities in the performing arts.
More than 500 students auditioned for fewer than 50 company roles in this year’s production, making the selection process highly competitive. Ava was the only York student to audition and earned her place in the company through her own initiative and talent, a particularly impressive achievement as one of the few sophomores among a cast largely made up of upperclassmen.
The All-State Production has a long history of spotlighting Illinois’ top high school performers, with past participants going on to successful careers on stage and screen. Notable Illinois theater alumni include Jane Lynch and John Malkovich, both of whom have participated in the festival in previous years.
As a cast member, Ava will proudly represent York High School throughout the festival and in all associated publicity, programs, and performances. Newsies will be performed five times at the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University during the festival in January 2026.
York High School and District 205 celebrate Ava for her extraordinary accomplishment, which places her among the top high school performers in the state. Her achievement highlights the result of a decade of hard work, dedication, perseverance and a love for musical theater.
Congratulations to Ava on this outstanding honor. The Dukes community looks forward to cheering her on as she takes the stage in Newsies at the Illinois High School Theater Festival at ISU in January 2026.