Piedmont One-Act Play Wins State
Piedmont Academy’s One Act Play cast and crew captured its second straight GISA State AA One-Act Play championship on November 8 at the competition held at Darton College in Albany.
The group received three first place rankings from the three judges, who gave the group a total score of 286 out of 300, more than five ranking points higher than the second place play from Brookwood School of Thomasville, who had ranks totaling 8. The Piedmont troupe also outranked the play from Gatewood School which placed third in state competition despite winning the region competition two weeks earlier.
This year’s winning production was the poignant and timely play of Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet by Jonathan Dorf.
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Junior Lucy Strickland, who was also recognized at region competition, received one of five outstanding performance awards at state for her portrayal of Helen.
The judges also named senior Samuel McGinnis as a top performance award winner for his work as “Achilles.”
Three supporting actors from Piedmont were given an outstanding performance plaque together for their portrayals of “Bully” by senior Davis Kimball, “Glinda” by junior Samantha Ramsdell, and “Bluebird Student” by freshman Abby Hyde.
The judges praised the excellent characterizations of every person on stage and loved the way the Piedmont students handled the intense subject matter with maturity, grace, and sincerity, they said. The judges said they were captured from beginning to end and felt the group produced great stage pictures while holding their freezes in character for a long period of time.
Other students who contributed to the championship performance were Amy Anuszczyk, Lacy Adamson, Carley Cain, Audrey Cleary, Clare Maloney, Jenna Vella, Montana Dozier, Gabe Hestad, Jordan Hicks, Emmie Kelly, James Marks, Savannah McGinnis, Katie Odegaard, Jacob Bowers, Lena Boyd, Gabriel Courtman, Christopher Cain, Bridgette Phillips, and Matti Smith.
Piedmont teacher and literary coordinator Bobbi Sauls was the director of this play. Assisting with various aspects of the production was Piedmont teacher and Fine Arts officer Suzanne Arena.
Offering their support to the students on the day of state competition were parents Becky Boyd, Chris and Gretchen Cain, David Odegaard, Mary and Danny Ramsdell, and David Strickland. Piedmont parent Steve Hildebrandt provided logistical support as the group’s bus driver. The group was also supported by school headmaster Tony Tanner and teacher Daniel Funt who made the trip to Albany.
The Monticello community will have one final opportunity to view this award-winning production at the Annual Dessert Theatre this Saturday, November 12, at the school’s gymnasium. Tickets are $8 in advance or $12 at the door.
