Mainstage took their show, “Peter Pan,” to the Region 5C competition on February 16 and placed first out of nine schools. The group has been rehearsing the show since August and with the help from their teacher, Jelita Perry, they were awarded superior ratings from the judges.
The group practiced everyday after school to perfect their roles. Along with “Peter Pan,” the theater has also been rehearsing during the school day for their spring musical “Chicago.” With the switching of second semester classes, the cast was changed, incorporating different students into the roles.
“The group struggled with staying interested in what they were doing since they had been doing it for so long, ” junior and Peter Pan participant Stella Ware said. “For me it is trying to get comfortable in the role as well as theater, as it had been a while since I had acted.”
Along with winning the regional championship, four students, Ben Stallard, Cole Harkey, Madison Gardner, Nevaeh Cosby won an Outstanding Actor Award. These students overcame the challenges they had faced, and were honored by the judges.
“[Winning the award] meant a lot, I think very fondly of my acting and winning an award for it just boosted my confidence,” junior and Peter Pan participant Madison Gardner said.
Competing at states is not a first for Mainstage, as they previously went to the state festival in 2018 with their performance of “Mother Courage and Her Children,” and in 2021 they went to the virtual state festival with “InThe Forests of the Night.”
Mainstage traveled to the VHSL Class 5 state championships on March 3, and won the state championship. Two students, Stella Ware and Cole Harkey received Outstanding Actor Awards.
Next up for theater is the Music Theater Ensemble classes performance of Chicago, their spring musical, on April 26-28.
