Last Updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 11:51 AM CST
Your School : Wabeno drama department takes home Critic's Choice award at State
Wabeno High School (WHS) Drama production of "Until the Stars All Fall from the Sky," by Lakewood playwright Nick Ireland, took home the coveted "Critic's Choice" award at the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival held at UW-Stevens Point, November 15 through 17. Critic's Choice is given based on the judges' impression of the whole piece, akin to the "Best Picture" category at the Oscars. WHS was among 15 schools in the entire state to receive the award this year. It is Wabeno's fourth trip to the State Festival and its first ever Critic's Choice award.
The cast also received Honorable Mention in the ensemble acting category, and director Nick Lowery received Honorable Mention in the directing category. "This wasn't a showcase for a single actor or actress," said Lowery. "It was a strong show in all aspects, including tech crew, without any star player."
Wabeno was the smallest school in the state to receive Critic's Choice in 2007. The average enrollment of schools receiving Critic's Choice this year was over 1,000 students.
"I always tell the kids that they are swimming in some pretty deep water down there at State," Lowery said, "but they're not intimidated by that. I think the our outstanding Sectional field helps. Our students have seen a number of top quality plays before they ever get to State. They know what to expect."
The State is divided into five Sectionals, but the Oconto Falls Sectional provided a full 1/3 of the shows that were awarded Critic's Choice (Seymour, Northland Pines, Appleton North and West De Pere were the others.)
Oconto Falls Sectional Chair Chris Verges of Coleman was very happy to be able to present the Critic's Choice award to Wabeno.
"You have to understand," she gently teased as the cast and crew anxiously waited to hear the judges' results. "You've only been back at this for three years, and nobody gets Critic Choice in only their third year... You just did!" (Wabeno revived their one-act program in 2005. It had been dropped following a successful run under Nancy Volk's direction in the early 1980's.) Verges admitted to feeling some Sectional pride, and the Wabeno students were also glad to see favorite shows from the Sectional and District competitions succeeding at State.
"There are some incredible actors and shows at our sectional, and State is a great chance for kids from ‘up north' to show the whole state what we have to offer," said Wabeno senior Meghan Keller.
A trip to the State Festival always provides many memories of shows and workshops and new people the students meet. Such a successful trip to State can sometimes provide especially vivid memories. Sophomore Rachel Rocole was making her first trip to the State Festival. Her reaction is fairly typical of first-time attendees.
"I remember that there were so many kids there, and they were all actors. So, they got it. They understood everything you have to put into it to have a great show. And they understood why we do it."
The cast and crew are led by seniors Kelly Ellis, Meghan Keller, Amanda Leonard, Jessica Veeser and Cassandra Weyers. Juniors participating were Chris Adamczyk, Audra Demmith, Dan Franzen, Angela Martinson and Jeff Orley. The sophomores were Frankie Derfus, Olivia McKenna and Rachel Rocole. The lone freshman was Erica Keller.
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