The Pahrump Valley High School theatre department brought its largest group ever to the Southern Nevada Regional Tech Conference for the 2026–2027 school year, returning with a team accuracy award, a perfect score in technical terms and a third-place finish in makeup for Laila Lusar.
The Trojans received the Most Accurate Team Award in the Nevada Thespian Regional Tech Olympics, earning recognition as the most “On Point” team. Every student in the PVHS group received a medal, giving the department plenty to celebrate following the September event.
The team’s perfect score in technical terms was another highlight, demonstrating students’ knowledge of the vocabulary used behind the scenes in theatre productions. That understanding supports clear communication among the people responsible for bringing a show’s technical elements together.
Lusar earned third place overall in makeup, placing her among the top three in Southern Nevada and receiving recognition through the Star Costume Makeup Award. Her work involved applying and detailing a foam latex prosthetic, a process that requires careful fitting, secure adhesion and smooth blending to create a convincing finished appearance.
According to information provided by the department, Star Costume described Lusar’s application and detailing as work that would pass as “television quality.” The recognition highlighted both her precision in applying the prosthetic and her ability to finish it with convincing detail.
Organized by Nevada Thespians, the state affiliate of the Educational Theatre Association, the annual regional conference brings together high school students and educators to develop technical theatre skills. The event includes technical workshops, leadership training and the Tech Olympics competition, giving students opportunities to learn and demonstrate their abilities alongside peers from other schools.
The conference also provides a qualifying opportunity for the national Thespys awards, connecting regional participation with broader opportunities for student recognition.
For PVHS, this year’s results paired individual achievement with success across the group. Its largest-ever conference delegation returned with recognition for the accuracy and technical knowledge that help turn creative ideas into finished productions. Lusar’s makeup honor added another accomplishment for a department whose students are developing their skills both onstage and behind the scenes.
*Photos provided by Dr. Duvall.
