Cullman High School Theatre brought home Best in Show honors, among many others, from last weekend’s Trumbauer Festival in Florence. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Jane Skinner)
FLORENCE – On Saturday, Cullman High School’s Theatre Department had a huge day at the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s Walter Trumbauer Secondary Theatre Festival district three competition at Florence High School. Students presented the one-act play “Peter and the Starcatcher,” and brought home numerous awards, including:
- Best in Show
- Best Actor – Graffin Shaddrix
- Best Supporting Actor – Clay Brown
- All Star Cast – Atticus Phillips, Micah Coucke, Sam Jones, Chandler Greer, Isaiah Fuller, and Grant Holland.
- Best Ensemble
- Best Costumes
- Best Scenery
- Best Tech
- Superior Medals awarded to:
- Macey Orr and Coco Eddleman for Reader’s Theatre
- Caleb Brown, Graffin Shaddrix and Matthew Smith for Male Dramatic Monologue
- David Goymer and Foster Carmichael for Male Comedic Monologue
- Avery Drake and Jenn Netherton for Duet Acting
- Emiley Gable, Natalie Thrasher, Laci New and Alyssa Sandlin for Female Musical Theatre Dramatic
- Chandler Greer, Haley Sanchez and Jamie Jowers for Female Musical Theatre Comedic
- Micah Coucke, Matthew Smith and Dawson Culver for Male Musical Theatre Dramatic
- Grant Holland for Male Musical Theatre Comedic
- Abby West and Micah Coucke for Duet Musical Theatre Dramatic
- Emma Mansour for Stage Management
Additionally, two of Cullman’s Group Musical Theatre entries were awarded superiors:
- “Rock Island” from “The Music Man” – Adam Cooner, Grant Holland, Graffin Shaddrix, Devon Campbell, Sam Jones, Dawson Culver and Caleb Brown
- “She’s In Love” from “The Little Mermaid” – Kayla Watts, Alyssa Sandlin, Mary Claire Page, Laci New, Natalie Thrasher and Chandler Greer
In all, CHS Theatre was awarded 36 individual superior medals.
CHS Choral Director Sarah Jane Skinner, who manages the musical side of the Theatre Department, told The Tribune, “The ACT Trumbauer Festival is a great opportunity for our children to hone their performance skills and to gain real-world audition experience. Most of the work preparing for their individual events requires time spent on their own which builds important life skills about hard work and dedication. The One Act competition allows the students to be a part of something bigger than themselves, working toward a common goal together which is important for students to experience.”
CHS Theatre Director Wayne Cook shared, “We are very proud of the accomplishments of this group. These kinds of results require hard work and dedication. Our students have learned what it takes, and they are delivering. The job is not complete. We want to take what we have done and have a strong showing at state.”
Skinner added, “I could not be more proud of the hard work and dedication these students have shown. We have striven to build a culture of excellence in the theatre department and these students have taken it upon themselves to continue this tradition with pride. Of course, I am proud of their accomplishments and awards this weekend, but I am more proud of the quality of character shown day in and day out by the students in rehearsals. They are just respectful, kind, motivated kids. It is an absolute joy to work with them, and I can't wait to see where they go from here!”
Cook and Skinner each offered thanks to CHS Principal Kim Hall and school administrators, Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson and the City School Board, and the Cullman community for its support of the school’s arts programs.
CHS Theatre’s performance at the district level has qualified the group to compete for the third year in a row at the state level Walter Trumbauer Secondary Theatre Festival at Troy University, Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, 2018. Each of the students who earned individual or group superiors at district qualified to compete in those categories at the state festival, as well.
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