MHS theater program excels at Regional

Jan. 27, 14 students from the Maricopa High School Theatre Company competed at the Central Arizona Festival of Theatre (CAFT), a regional competition of the Arizona Thespians and the International Thespian Society.

Students who score overall Superior in their events qualify to compete at the International Thespian Festival, held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln every June. Four entries qualified to compete at Lincoln, and the MHS Theatre Company is making plans to attend this event for the second year in a row.

The following events performed at CAFT:

• Britney Montgomery, senior, solo musical: “No One Else” from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Britney earned nearly perfect scores for her performance. She is also the recipient of the Amy Bennett Musical Theatre Memorial Scholarship (awarded by Arizona Thespians last November at State Festival) and will be going to National Competition for the second year in a row.
• Taryn Story, junior, solo musical: “Hold On” from The Secret Garden. Taryn scored overall Superior and will be attending National Competition for the second year in a row.
• Kjirsten Lemon, junior, solo musical: “I Love Play Rehearsal” from Be More Chill. Kjirsten earned an overall Excellent score and will attend Nationals with the group musical event (she attended last year for her solo performance).
• Hannah Panter, junior, solo musical: “Someone Else’s Story” from Chess. Hannah scored an overall Excellent and will attend Nationals with the group musical.
• Antonio Gonzales, junior, and Collin Martin, senior, duo acting: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Antonio and Collin earned nearly perfect scores for their portrayals of Big Daddy and Brick Pollitt, and will compete at Lincoln.
• Madison Ewald and Jaime Olmos, seniors, duo acting: Rumors. Madison and Jaime scored an overall Excellent.
• Fides Bernales and Caleb Wilson, seniors, duet musical: “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked. Fides and Caleb scored overall Excellent.
• Seniors Ivie Keene, Chaienne Zoller, Rachel Knight Britney Montgomery, and juniors Taryn Story, Aidyn Curtis, Hannah Panter, and Kjirsten Lemon, group musical: “Big Spender” from Sweet Charity. The ladies earned high Superior scores and will be competing at Lincoln this summer.

Once again, the MHS theatre students demonstrated a high level of talent and professionalism. In addition to preparations for competition, they are readying the stage for The Mousetrap (Feb. 1-3) as well as several student-directed productions (to be announced) and rehearsing for historical re-enactments of their original script “The Baron of Arizona” at the Florence Historical Home Tour (Feb. 10).