Maryland
Dorothy DeLucchi began her theatre education career as a student teacher in 2001 on a middle school production of Annie in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. That was Dorothy’s first year as a teacher for Frederick County Public Schools. Ballenger Creek Middle School was filled with new experiences for Dorothy, including directing their first after-school musical and reviving the after-school drama club.
Little did she know at the time where her passion for school theatre would take her. Fast forward 3 years, and Dorothy DeLucchi had grown her middle school program to over 100 students participating in the after-school program.
In 2005, Dorothy was recruited by the principal at Tuscarora High School to take over the theatre program at the new high school. In her new position, Dorothy was able to grow the high school program into one of the largest in Frederick County. She chartered ITS Troupe 6972 and produced 8 or more productions each school year. She created a flourishing drama club and ITS Troupe and was a dedicated volunteer board member for Maryland Thespians. Her ITS students became State Thespian Officers with four becoming STO President.
Since then, Dorothy has worked endlessly to strengthen theatre education in Maryland, offering to host the Maryland Thespian Festival at a time when it was in much need of revitalization. And she has led the charge every year since, from 2010-2022. When it doubled and then soon tripled in size, Dorothy secured its new home at the University of Maryland. She created county and statewide theatre assessments and was selected by EdTA to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Secretary of Education John H. King.
Of her work, colleague Marla Blasco of Long Reach High School says, “Dorothy DeLucchi helped to build Maryland Thespians into what it is today. In the early 2000s, I met Dorothy for the first time. She was memorable because every time the Chapter Director asked for a volunteer, Dorothy’s hand kept going up in the air. The Maryland Chapter was ready to expand, and Dorothy was ready to lead the charge. It would take many pages to list every contribution that she has made to elevate theatre education both in the state of Maryland and nationwide. Dorothy is not just a soloist singing a song on stage, she is the whole Tony Award-winning musical and plays every part with all her heart.”
