Gander Collegiate tops theatre festival

Gander Collegiate were the big winners at Nova Central School District's Regional High School Theatre Festival.

The local high school won the best play award for it's production of Emotional Baggage by Lindsay Price, performed on the final day of the two-day festival, held April 13-14 at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre in Gander.

"It's great," said Matt Crummey, who recently completed a teaching internship at the school and co-directed the play with Jennifer Stanley. "We put a lot of work into this."

The pair were also recognized with a directing award for their effort, which dealt with a group of strangers interacting with another during a train ride - without any dialogue taking place.

Ms. Stanley said auditions happened in January for the play, with rehearsals beginning the next month and continuing until just before the festival.

"It's been going pretty much everyday, after school and lunch time, ever since," she said. "They work so well together, they're all great friends, and they're so positive to each other and there for one another."

The school will now go on to the provincial high school theatre festival, taking place in Corner Brook, May 7-9.

Luka Norman took home two awards for his contributions to the play, winning an acting award along with one for musical arrangement.

Broc MacWhirter, Charlotte Gushue, and Laura Dyke each received acting awards, while the cast of Emotional Baggage was also recognized for ensemble performance. Robert Mercer received a sound award.

Meanwhile, Ashley Kroyer of Jane Collins Academy in Hare Bay won the best overall female performance award for her role as narrator for the school's presentation of I Hate the Mall by Brian Flynn.

Noelle Slaney and Julian Brown each received acting awards, Daniel Wilkins was recognized for his sound work on the play, and Ryan Collins received a stage handling award. The school also received an award for scene work.

St. Paul's Intermediate won a costume award and curtain call award for their performance of Shakespearean Idol. Greg Savage, Uju Madu, Kyle Sheppard, Mary Feltham, and Rebecca Webb won acting awards for the play, and Shawna Bartlett received a set design award.

In other major awards, Mikhail Ravalia won the best overall male performance for his role in J.M. Olds Collegiate's performance of The Bright Blue Mailbox Suicide Note.

Lewisporte Intermediate was first runner-up for best play.

Adjudicator Dave Anthony, a retired teacher also involved with the Grand Falls-Windsor theatre scene, said the festival was top notch.

"We had a blend of locally written pieces mixed with a great blend of issue plays that didn't knock you over the head. It was a great festival, and I have to say, in the 30-plus years I've worked with kids, for the ones in the workshops, they were among the most receptive groups I've ever seen. Theatre is alive and well in this area."

As an event, Mr. Anthony said the festival does an excellent job of creating camaraderie amongst students.

"Kids meet in the workshop, and seconds later they're going out for a coffee or texting someone."

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