By ALLIE SLOAN
As they waited patiently in their seats surrounded by other young actors, singers and even designers, they grew anxious awaiting their scores from the judges.
For four days, members of the Boone Thespians performed their way through the Florida State Thespian Festival. During their time at states, they competed in musical numbers, acting skits, both solo and in-groups and showed off their best costume designs. Their efforts showed as a number a the students came home with an excellent and superior.
For one senior girl, her ability to impress the judges was at an all time high. Veronica Kelly won Critic’s Choice monologue, an achievement award to the best monologue in the state. She also left with straight superiors on her monologues.
“I was overwhelmed; I couldn’t believe it,” Kelly said. “Especially after I forgot [part of my monologue] for 20 seconds, I just wasn’t expecting it. I was so happy and grateful though that my work and skills were noticed.”
Another honor for Kelly was getting the chance to preform on the closing night of the festival for all the Thespians in the state.
“[I had] a big adrenalin rush. I am usually excited to perform but I was a little nervous this time,” Kelly said. “It was a full house which didn’t help my nerves; I would say there was roughly 1000 people there.”
Acting wasn’t the only focus of the weekend, for senior Evangelene Schildwachter, her costume designs won an excellent award.
“I remember presenting my costume and just feeling so good about what I had created. I was so happy to be that person that could say they made it,” Schildwachter said.
Having this honor for her costume however did not come easy; she spent hours preparing her, late 1800 to early 1900s masterpiece, just days before she left for states.
“I had to do a lot of research for my costume design. It had to be all on the history and time it was taking place in. [The judges] want your details of the time period to look just right so they can see what will be on stage,” Schildwachter said. “I had to make sure mine was perfect.”
Schildwachter and Kelly both came home with great honors, but they were not the only ones.
Other students taking home wins were seniors Brandon Dallzell and Tyler Conrady for their monologues. Juniors Caleb Roche, Kyra Kemp, Mallory Paul and sophomore Misha Smith earned a superior rating for their ensemble-acting scene. Senior Angel Lozada and junior Jacyln Thomas earned straight superiors for their duet musical piece. Senior Naivette Henriquez earned an excellent for Costume Construction. Senior Kendyl Stewart earned straight Superiors for Publicity. The large group musical “Toledo Surprise” performed for 7000 people at opening ceremonies and earned a rating of Straight Superiors. The cast included Jackson Upperco, Tyler Conrady, Caleb Roche, Connor Anderson, Michael Medina, Roberto Guevara, Luis Difo, Colton McCorkle, Marcus Clement, Savanna Shurman, Mallory Paul, Dalles Black, Misha Smith, Savannah Rucks, Skylin Whitmer and Veronica Kelly.
To see other photos of the drama department performing in Dracula click here.