The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Wyoming Report

May 1, 2008

East troupers celebrate seven straight wins

How does a mathematician count Wyoming County East High School’s state theatre titles? Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back — seven consecutive wins.

East Theatre Department has now added the Outstanding Play Award, won during the West Virginia Thespian Festival April 10-12 at the Cultural Center in Charleston.

The group’s production of Milcha Sanchez-Scott’s “Dog Lady” also earned the praise of professional adjudicators.

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Wyoming East, for bringing us a play that takes us to a new world, a world outside the one usually recognized in West Virginia,” adjudicator Greg Mach, of West Virginia Wesleyan, said. “The director at East and his students consistently create new worlds to play in and consistently stay within the rules of those created worlds.”

East’s theatre students rehearsed Spanish accents and researched different aspects of Latino culture to produce a play that takes place in the Latin barrios of Los Angeles, explained Director Benny Mills.

“I had practiced my accent before,” said Kayla Winfrey, who was named to the All State Cast, “when I was studying Spanish with Mrs. Perez at school.”

Perez, a native of Cuba, donated her time during lunch periods to work with the cast on accents.

“It was a fun play. I really liked seeing the kids do artistic things with the Spanish culture. Our theatre troupe here is amazing,” Perez said.

“This troupe consistently performs at a high level, and that’s amazing for a high school,” Mach emphasized. “Their sets, their costumes, their acting, their attention to detail — all of that speaks of a troupe well prepared and well directed.”

And the cast will be back next year. This year’s troupe consisted of several underclassmen and only two seniors. From the cast, Mikey Smith and Amanda Fulk will graduate this year. Cast members Kayla Winfrey, Brooke Jackson, Thomas Bland, Kayla Alred, and Brittany Bailey return for another season.

Also returning next year will be carpenter Andrew Lusk, who helped design and supervise construction of the award-winning set this year.

“Our theatre troupe comes back every year with trophies, trophies, and more trophies,” noted principal Barry Smith. “I’m not surprised that they have won back-to-back so many years. Their effort and commitment to excellence is amazing. I’m not surprised that they have won back-to-back so many years.”

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