Photo by Maddy Godt
BY KAYLEIGH NEALON, NCS INTERN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Natomas Charter School Performing and Fine Arts Academy students recently staged several award-winning performances at the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival held at The Harris Center For The Performing Arts at Folsom Lake College.
A total of 52 students participated in competition held Jan. 31.
The Lenaea Festival is the largest high school theatre competition in the Western United States. Fifty-eight schools from up and down the West Coast competed for medals.
“Expectations are always high at competitions because we’re an arts school,” said Rick Gott, who teaches acting and filmmaking at Natomas Charter. “We’ve been taking students to this festival for 15 years and I think this was one of our best outcomes ever. We placed in every category.”
Natomas charter students performed their abridged version of “The Laramie Project,” which opens at Natomas Charter school in late March
“Our events are always well attended by other schools,” said Karen Pollard, Theatre Arts department chair. “But this time, we had to turn people away at the door.
“It was totally full, there was a standing ovation at the end and the students felt like rock stars,” she said.
Natomas Charter’s acting and vocal departments sent three musical theatre soloists, a one-act play, some duet scenes, and several monologues to compete at the festival.
The Laramie Project received a Silver Medal – second place out of 58 schools – in the one-act play category.
Rebel Samuelson received a Gold Medal for Outstanding Performance In a one-act play for his portrayal of Dennis Shepard, Matthew Shepard’s father.
Jocelyn Kilpatrick received a Gold Medal in the musical theatre category for her performance of the song “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” from the musical “Avenue Q”
Haley Finerman received a Silver Medal in the musical theatre category for her performance of the song “Applause” from the musical “Applause.”
Jake Romero received a Respondent’s Choice Award in the musical theatre category for his performance of the song “Being Alive” from the musical “Company.”
Chazz DiStefano and Sabrina Calderon received a Respondent’s Choice Award in the duet scene category for their performance of Rudolfo and Catherine in a scene from “A View From The Bridge” by Arthur Miller.
Ashley Roseander received a Respondent’s Choice Award in the monologue category for her performance of Sonya from “One Graveyard” by Kellie Powell.
“We’re so proud of each and every one of our students,” said Pollard. “They all worked so hard and gave 110 percent at the rehearsals and the performances. It was great learning experience.”
Photo by Maddy Godt
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