Drama students from seven MCPSS high schools qualified to compete in the state finals of the Walter S. Trumbauer High School Festival on December 5-6 at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
The festival consists of acting competitions for high school students in 30 individual events, a one-act play festival, and a studio theatre one-act play festival. Students qualify for the state competition by earning a superior rating at the district competition. At all levels of competition, students receive critiques from qualified teachers, professionals and theatre practitioners, allowing them to improve their theatrical skills.
Here is the list of award winners from MCPSS high schools.
Alma Bryant High
Superior Medal Winners:
Ava Austin (3 Superior Medals)
Annah Edwards (3 Superior Medals)
Maddie-Lynn Bosarge
Marley Huey
Madison Johnson (2 Superior Medals)
LeSondra Jones
Sara Ramer
Miley Tillman (2 Superior Medals)
Excellent Medal Winners:
Braelyn Chisholm
Darion Jones
LeSondra Jones
Lay'lani Woods
Baker High
Best in Show: Group Acting: Kimber Vickers, Ashlyn Johnston, June Mason, Ruby Starling
First Place, Ensemble Pantomime Intermediate: Xiao Ou, Yerliany Santiago-Rivera, Addison Covis, Emerick Elliott
Second Place, Properties Design Varsity: Lena Bryant
Second Place, Ensemble Pantomime Novice: Aubrey Billips, Tamra Parker, Leilani McNorton, Za’Vian Moore
Second Place, Duet Musical Comedic Novice: Hadley Carpenter and Kennedy Lee
Third Place, Duet Musical Comedic Intermediate: Gabby Mills and Corynne Swan
Third Place, Costume Design Novice: Adair Velazquez
Baker students earned 47 Superior Medals for their performance, technical theatre, and design projects.
Superior Medal Winners:
Adair Velazquez
Addison Covas
Alan Breland
Alba Reck-Jensen
Ashlyn Johnston
Aubrey Billips
Chris Guy
Conner Montee
Corynne Swan (2 Superior Medals)
DeAnte Gamble
Emerick Elliott
Frankie Brown
Gabrialle Mills
Hadley Carpenter (2 Superior Medals)
Isreal Fox
J'Kaia Harris
James Stringfellow
Jeremiah Lawrence
June Mason
Kadence Whiting
Katelin Taylor
Kennedy Lee
Kimber Vickers (2 Superior Medals)
Laila Mosely
Leilani McNorton
Lena Bryant
Madison Potts
Matthew Plaisance
Miley Montgomery
Morgan Zaborny (2 Superior Medals)
Nathaniel Berg
Rachel Poole
Ruby Starling (2 Superior Medals)
Tamra Parker (2 Superior Medals)
Tony Presswood (2 Superior Medals)
Xiao Ou
Yerliany Santiago
ZaVian Moore
Zowie Lara
Blount High
Third place, Intermediate Acting Comedic 1900-1974: Brailyn Stewart
Superior Medal Winners:
Amber Giles
Prettie Moore
Davidson High
First place, dramatic acting duet, contemporary: Jack Collins-Jett and Joshua Scott
Superior Medal Winners:
Abby Mosley and Kenya Stallworth for Comedic Duet Musical
Anslee Schubert for Comedic Solo Musical
Excellent Medal Winner:
Jack Collins-Jett for Playwriting
LeFlore Magnet
Excellent Medal Winners:
Saniya Darrington, Original Works solo/duet
Albuquerque Johnson and Alayja Goodson, Duet Acting Comedic Contemporary
Murphy High
Red Zeller received second alternate for a scholarship to any Alabama School for Technical Design. It is a huge accomplishment to receive this highly competitive scholarship.
Superior Medal Winners:
Emery Jones and Lien Gaut in Pantomime
Lien Gaut in Classical Monologue
Claudia Kuppersmith in Dramatic Monologue
Emmanuel Holmes in Dramatic Monologue
Cam (Raleigh) Thomson in Dramatic Monologue
Alex Arnold and Logan Foster in Comedic Duet
Cam (Raleigh) Thomson and Piper Velaski in Comedic Duet
Red Zellner in Costume Construction (Murphy's highest score)
Red Zellner in Set Design
Excellent Medal Winners:
Clair Fletcher and Abigail Allen in Reader's Theatre
Destiny Marshall in Comedic Monologue
Robyn Meadors in Comedic Monologue
Jakiyah Cowans and Kristiauna Gulley in Duet Musical Dramatic
Chasia Rich and Zoey Oakley for Duet Musical Comedic (.6 points off from an superior)
Claudia Kuppersmith and Frances Lepik in Duet Musical Comedic
Mina Trice-Beck in Puppetry
Isabella Gaudet in Costume Design