Rushford-Peterson's Forrest Musselman Recognized as NFHS Outstanding Theatre Educator for Minnesota

Forrest Musselman’s work as an educator isn’t limited to Rushford-Peterson High School, where he teaches English, directs plays and is an assistant speech coach. 

“Forrest has given many of us in Southeast Minnesota a hand in one way or another,” said Jackie Whitacre, a Fillmore Central teacher, director and coach who is also an MSHSL One Act Play Advisory Committee member.

Teams representing almost 20 schools in the region get access to theater professionals at WorkShape festivals Musselman organizes each January. Minnesota’s NFHS Outstanding Theatre Educator recipient said it’s “one of my favorite moments in the school year.” 

“Because we are located in a rural part of Minnesota, it's important that students get to be exposed to theater without having to travel long distances,” Musselman said. “It is important because kids realize that they're not alone and there are other kids just like them that love theater and the arts. And it's just a lot of fun!” 

Musselman also guided his peers last summer as a main presenter at the “Creating and Sustaining a Theater Program in a Small School” workshop.

He has judged speech competitions since 2002 and is set to return as a State One Act Play judge this year.

Some of the plays Minnesota students perform might even be written by Musselman, who has published more than 20. They’re staged widely in the U.S. and internationally as well. 

“He publishes so many one act plays that we always have to verify that a play that he wrote is not one of the qualifiers, such a unique conundrum,” MSHSL Assistant Director Amy Doherty said. “To have such success and high respect as a director, judge, playwright, teacher and presenter makes Forrest unique and an asset to Minnesota.” 

Musselman has been a teacher at Rushford-Peterson for 17 years. He began as the school's play director upon his graduation in 1994 from Winona State University, where he also received his Bachelor of Science degree in 2000. His One Act Play teams have won 20 subsection titles and four section championships and received a Spotlight on the Arts starred performance distinction at the State Festival. He has coached students at the Speech State Tournament for 25 years, including a Storytelling champion in 2020.