Students Participate in 4th Annual North East Theatre Festival

From the North East Theatre Festival:

This past weekend, Feb. 18-19, drama students from around the region participated in the Fourth Annual North East Theatre Festival, at Bel Air High School. The students and their teachers joined theatre professionals and college professors for various workshops, competitions and performances for each other.

Participating schools included: Aberdeen High School, Bel Air High School, C. Milton Wright High School, Caesar Rodney High School, Clarksburg High School, Edgewood High School, Harford Tech High School, Hereford High School, North Caroline High School, North Harford High School, and Patterson Mill High School.

Participating colleges and organizations included: University of Delaware, West Virginia University, Salisbury Univesity, Stevenson University, Frostburg University, Harford Community College, Phoenix Festival Theatre, Cockpit In Court Summer Theatre, Centerstage, WMAR-TV, Winters Lane Productions and East Shore Sound.

On Saturday afternoon, the students had to opportunity to participate in a talkback session with Mr. Sterling K. Brown, our keynote speaker.

Mr. Brown was born in St. Louis, Missouri. An avid actor since he was a child, he went on to attend Stanford University, where he earned a B.A. in drama, before going on to receive his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Upon graduation, he took up a series of roles in regional theatre. He has also since appeared in numerous television shows including ER, NYPD Blue, JAG, Boston Legal, Alias, Without A Trace, and Supernatural. He was a regular in the comedy Starved and has also appeared in movies like Stay (with Ewan McGregor), Brown Sugar with (Taye Diggs) and Trust the Man with David Duchovny and Julianne Moore.

He was a popular recurring character on the television series Supernatural, where he played tough-as-nails vampire hunter Gordon Walker. Mr. Brown is currently filming the 5th season of Lifetime Network’s television show Army Wives playing the character of Dr. Roland Burton.

Following the Q&A with Mr. Brown, were the Festival awards. Students performed in various competitions throughout the weekend. Awards were presented to the following students who excelled in their particular area:

Vocal Competition
Aberdeen High School – Kayla Rowley
Bel Air High School – Genevieve Boutilier
Bel Air High School – Brenna Kearney
Bel Air High School – Faith Wang & Val Pasquale
Clarksburg High School – Claire Thomas
Clarksburg High School – Kevin Grossi
Harford Tech High School – Shawn Riley
Hereford High School – Grace Chandler
Hereford High School – Will Meister
North Harford High School – Katherine Hairsine, Monica Bullock & Jordan Borkoski
North Harford High School – Emma Theis
Patterson Mill High School – Megan Valle & Laura Valle
Patterson Mill High School – Katie Farlow & Megan Valle

Technical Portfolio Competition
Clarksburg High – Mikayla O’Connor (Costume Design)

Playwriting
Aberdeen High – Paisley Allen for “Childs Play”
Aberdeen High – Paulina Brewer for “Unforgettable Memories”

Monologue Competition
Aberdeen High School – Nickole Kanyuch
Bel Air High School – Anna Holmes
Bel Air High School – Brenna Kearney
Bel Air High School – Nikki Hildebrand
Edgewood High School – Amanda Merlock
Hereford High School – Katelyn Fowler
North Harford High School – Chad Short

Scene Competition
Clarksburg High School – Aaron Burke & Madelyn Anderson
Clarksburg High School – Rachel Johnson & Becky Grissom
Hereford High School – Matt Fowler & Jimmy Middleton

Dance Competition
Bel Air High School – Alyssa Sbarra (Technique & Interpretation)
Bel Air High School – Heather Hannan (Routine Construction) & Crosby Rothey
Edgewood High School – Dance Ensemble (Group Dynamics)
Hereford High School – Libby Burgess (Grace)
Patterson Mill High – Shaunna Sumlin (Partner Work) & James Horseman

Improvisation Showcase
Aberdeen High School – Kayla Rowley
Bel Air High School – Brendan Morrison
Hereford High School – Libby Burgess
Hereford High School – Hudson Imhoff
Hereford High School – Katelyn Fowler
North Harford High School – Chad Short
North Harford High School – Christian Posko
Patterson Mill High School – Vincent Kalwa

Excellence in Main Stage Performances
Aberdeen High School – “Shuffling,” Nickole Kanyuch & Morgan Sulzbach
Bel Air High School – “All in the Timing,” Brendan Morrison, Conor Perkins & Tim Deluise
Caesar Rodney High School – “Complete History of America,” Tianna Beckles & Mary Grugynuk
Clarksburg High School – “Stuck,“ Becky Grissom & Aaron Burke
Edgewood High School – “All I Really Need to Learn,” Brittany Anderson & Isaac Reed
Hereford High School – “Bourgeouis Gentleman,” Dylan Roberts & Jimmy Middleton
North Caroline High School – “Text Me,” Casey Clark & Jessica Ruskin
Patterson Mill High School – “Twitch,” Vincent Kalwa & Josh Decker

Troupe Sponsors
Aberdeen High School – Holly Coverstone
Bel Air High School – Chuck Bowden, Terri Mathews and Ben Smith
C. Milton Wright High School – Gaylynn Price
Caesar Rodney High School – Elizabeth Blumer
Clarksburg High School – Michelle Meyer & Tim Evans
Edgewood High School – Dawn Sinclair & Kelly Christ
Harford Tech High School – Jessica Brockmeyer & Emily Knowles
Hereford High School – Chris Rose
North Caroline High School – Katherine and Paul Schoonover
North Harford High School – Nancy Green
Patterson Mill High School – Patty Baugher & Shane Jensen