The results of the 2012 Sears Drama Festival, featuring high school drama teams from both the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board, were announced on Feb. 17.
The festival was held at Erin District High School from Feb. 13 to 17.
Thirteen plays were presented by students and three were given outstanding production awards and will move on to a regional festival in Cambridge in April:
– Centre Wellington District High School’s (CWDHS) The Jacket, written by the cast;
– Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School’s Jealousy Jane by Lindsay Price; and
– Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute’s (GCVI) Sassy Networks by Samantha Maggiolo.
Other honours were awarded by school as follows.
CWDHS
Kaitlyn Coffey received an award of excellence and best actress award for her portrayal of Lily in The Jacket.
Awards for distinctive merit were also given to The Jacket’s Trysten Johnston (Jeremy), Rachel Lowe (Mrs. Smith) and technical director Doug Chase.
Erin District High School
The host school took home three awards for distinctive merit:
– Nathan Omardeen for his portrayal of Jace’s father in Liars;
– Katrina Kastelic for her portrayal of Veda in Hide & Seek; and
– Rebecca Thede for directing Hide & Seek.
Norwell District Secondary
Norwell’s Dustin Hope, accepted an award of excellence for best actor (Dunno) in Tick Talk.
The cast of that play also received an outstanding acting ensemble award.
Lourdes
An award for distinctive merit went to Tisha Zawada her role as the Monster in Jealousy Jane.
Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute
Playwright Dylan Billings won for Family Affairs and Liam Clark-Squire for acting (Gore) in that production.
Bishop Macdonell
Playwright Tate Brombal was recognized for The Line, and Nolan Henshall won best supporting actor in that production.
The cast of A Simple Task by Alan Haehnel won for outstanding ensemble.
GCVI
Samantha Maggiolo was recognized as best director for Sassy Networks. The school also received several awards of distinctive merit:
– playwrights Remi Long and Kelsey Flannigan for The Ace Team;
– set designer Amendy Chan for The Ace Team; and
– stage manager Hannah MacMillan for Sassy Networks.
St. James Catholic
Una Wabinski won an award of excellence for best actress in The Mailbox, which also saw an “outstanding visual achievement” award for the directors, designers, choreographers, technicians and cast for the play’s opening sequence.
J.F. Ross
Stage manager Jeff Elrick was recognized for Chamber Music.
The cast of Live on Stage Uncensored won the award of excellence for outstanding acting ensemble, while the production staff earned outstanding technical achievement. Riley Finniss also won best acting in this production.
The distinctive merit award went to Magnus Mee for directing Chamber Music.
