April 15, 2013
DSBN Schools Triple Threat at Drama Festival
Three DSBN student productions are being asked for an encore performance after being named best in show at the 2012 Niagara District Sears Drama Festival held in Welland. Governor Simcoe Secondary, Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School and St. Catharines Collegiate will be packing their costumes, sets and props before heading off to Hamilton to present at the Regional Sears Drama Festival beginning on Tuesday, April 16.
“Students and staff have put months of hard work into building sets, memorizing lines and rehearsing. They should all be commended for their careful preparation and professional performances,” said Gerda Klassen, DSBN Arts Consultant.
Festival coordinator Rassika Risko said the event allowed students to “showcase their skills, talent and passion. Any one of these fine productions could have gone on to represent the Niagara region with distinction.”
The Regional Festival will take place at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School in Hamilton from April 16 - 20. Two productions at the Regional Festival will be invited to perform their plays at the Ontario Showcase also taking place in Hamilton from May 8 - 11. This event is noncompetitive; however, a number of awards will be given at the discretion of the adjudicator. There are prizes for writing and technical skill, as well as scholarships and bursaries awarded to help recipients pursue careers in performing arts.
Regional Schedule (All performances begin at 7:00 p.m. at Sir John A MacDonald Secondary School in Hamilton)
April 17 - Governor Simcoe Secondary
April 18 - Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School
April 19 - St. Catharines Collegiate
The following is a full list of DSBN schools and students that took home awards from the Niagara District Sears Drama Festival held at Welland Centennial Secondary School.
Peltoma Award for Outstanding Productions
Property Rights – Governor Simcoe Secondary
Big Love – Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School
Broken – St. Catharines Collegiate
Niagara District Sears Drama Festival Awards
Best New Play – Broken by Brenna McAllister, St. Catharines Collegiate
Best Experimental Play – Big Love, Ridgeway-Crystal Beach
Shaw Festival Award for Most Promising Student – Shyanne Clark, South Lincoln High School
Rita Steeve Memorial Award for Technical Excellence – Property Rights, Governor Simcoe
Mac Dodge Award for Best Student Directed Play – Brooke Barnes, Fort Erie Secondary
Joseph Veyda Award for Stage Management – Emily Epp, Governor Simcoe and Desmond Stewart, Laura Secord Secondary
Best Visual Production – Property Rights, Governor Simcoe Secondary
Best Play for Social Issues – Dog Sees God, Stamford Collegiate
Good Egg Award for Cast Spirit – Dog Sees God, Stamford Collegiate
Sears Award of Excellence
Musical Performance – Madeline Kennedy, Laura Secord Secondary
Choral Work – Governor Simcoe Secondary
Ensemble – St. Catharines Collegiate
Bravery on Stage – Stamford Collegiate
Physical Imagery – Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School
Technical Elements – South Lincoln High School
Conceptual Additions – Welland Centennial
Sears Awards of Distinctive Merit
Laura Secord: The Band in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Governor Simcoe: Cassidy Martin as Figure 3 in Property Rites
South Lincoln: Julia Mehnert as Ms. Wilson in Pages
Stamford: Recovery by ensemble in Dog Sees God
Ridgeway-Crystal Beach: Lindsey Burgess in Big Love
Fort Erie: Shanna Ingram as the understudy in Drama Geeks
Welland Centennial: Darcy Feagan as Judge Judy in Trial by Judy
St. Catharines Collegiate: Ensemble for physical work in Broken