Piedmont One Act Play Scores Well

Piedmont Academy’s One-Act-Play cast and crew earned the Georgia Independent School Association Region (GISA) AA One Act Play first runner-up honor at competition at Augusta Preparatory Day School.

The group received two second place rankings and one first place ranking from the three judges, who gave them a total score of 252 points. This gave Piedmont the first runner-up honors behind region champions of Briarwood Academy, who received two first place ranking and one second place ranking with a total score of 249 points thus edging out Piedmont by only one ranking point.

Piedmont performed Ed Monk’s play “The Cards Of Fate” which was produced with permission from Playscripts, Inc. The play is a dark comedy about a game show where the contestants control the destinies of unsuspecting everyday people.

Judges at the regional level awarded senior Steve Martin an Outstanding Performance Awards for his portrayal of the three very different roles of Bob, Alex, and father. Junior Will Tillman was given an honorable mention Outstanding Performance Award for his portrayal as Cinnamon, the game show announcer.

Being the Region runner-up advanced the cast and crew to the GISA AA State competition held at Darton College in Albany, Georgia. Piedmont captured the first runner-up trophy at the state level beating out Briarwood Academy, Atlanta Country Day School, Robert Tombs Christian, Southwest Georgia, Twiggs Academy, and Oak Mountain Academy, all of whom placed first or second in their respective regions.

The judges praised the cast for their talent and hard work as well their being connected to the material and one another. The pacing of the performance was also complimented as well as the set design and appearance.

Piedmont was the only school to be awarded two of only five Outstanding Performance Awards given at the state level. Senior Steve Martin again earned an Outstanding Performance Award for his three roles mentioned earlier along with junior Will Tillman winning the other Outstanding Performance Award for his work as Cinnamon.

Cast and crew members helping to bring home the state runner-up trophy include senior Morgan Leach who played Buffy Youbetcha, the game show hostess, and junior Danny Ramsdell, playing the role of Nick Kowslowski, the contestant. Serving dual roles as Beth and Mother was senior Summer Collins while junior Nick Maynard tackled three roles, as Bob’s friend, Punk, and Otto.

Other supporting roles included Mattie Smith as Mother, Maddie Mooneyham as Susan Zimmerman, Ivy English as principal, Bridgette Phillips as Bambi, and Chris Cain as Larry Parks and booth voice, MaKennah Holifield as stage model, and Ryn Smith as nurse. Deacon Robinson and Gracie Hunt rounded out the cast as the graduates.. Madison Sanders and Hannah Nelson did a wonderful job serving as the game show crew who move props on and off stage during the performance.

Technical crew members included Chris McClain, Becca Hopper, and Amelia Dodson ran lights along with Alicia Peek and Taylor Swart who ran the sound board for the production.

Piedmont teacher Mary Ramsdell was the director of the play. She gives special thanks to Bobbi Sauls for support and advice with various aspects of the production, as well as all of those who have supported the cast and crew in their efforts.