Drama News
Cohasset advances to Semifinals in State Drama Festival
Created by Barbara Baumgarten on 7th March 2008, 2:36 pmLast Saturday in Attleboro, nine students from Cohasset High School took the stage to present their one-act play, “A Whole New You” in the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. Seven other schools were assigned to that site to present their works, including Acton-Boxborough RHS, Attleboro HS, Catholic Memorial, Marian HS, Montrose School, Newton Country Day School and Wilbraham & Monson Academy. At the end of a very long but exciting day, the Cohasset cast was rewarded by being selected as one of three plays to move on to the semifinal round on March 15.
According to director Stephanie Noble, the cast was nervous as they gathered their props and prepared the stage but once dialogue began and got their first laugh they knew they had something special. “Every thought, every movement and gesture was spot on. The cast took what they rehearsed and delivered it like pros. It’s not easy to get to this point but cast members worked together and listened to each others ideas and suggestions and brought this work to life.”
This year, 118 high schools from around the state competed in the prestigious festival that is celebrating its 77th year. From last week’s preliminary round, 42 schools have been selected to advance to the semifinals.
“Our cast lit up that stage and had the audience in the palm of their hand,” said co-director Barbara Baumgarten. “Each one brought great energy and something new to their performance that day. It was a thrilling moment when they announced our name as a semifinalist, I think we all exploded. I am so proud of them and I can’t wait for them to move on.”
The cast of “A Whole New You” by Alan Haehnel includes in order of appearance: Tara Goodwin as Ms. Fowler, Sally Meehan as Sandy, Andrew Bell as Dad, Logan Pratt as Option One and Mom, Natalie Dignam as Ms. Chichester, Greta Shwachman as Option Two and Option Four, Mark Seraikas as Roger, Lauren Mack as Option Three, and Ellie Baumgarten as Miss Florem.
“This is a big deal and very important to us,” adds Noble. “We are honored, yet humbled to be in the next round with some large schools with distinguished and legendary drama programs. We will take a close look at what we presented last week and try to incorporate the judges’ comments to improve. We may be little but we’ve got heart and talent to boot.”