WHS drama earns top honors at state competition

The Whitefish High School drama club recently traveled to the Montana Thespian Festival in Missoula. They took the stage, gave it their all, and were awarded as the 2013 Outstanding Thespian Troupe.

They also earned Best Ensemble for their performance of “The Laramie Project” and a number of individual troupe members also earned honors.

Drama coach Kelliann Blackburn said the win means a lot to the students who faced tough competition at the festival. The honor is considered similar to a sports team wining the state championship.

“They competed against AA schools that have classes for drama,” she said. “These kids have to find time after school, with all their other commitments, to practice.”

The Montana Thespian Festival draws high schools from across the state for two days of judged performances by the troupes, individual competitions known as the Thespian Olympics and workshops.

In order to be eligible for the Outstanding Thespian Troupe award groups must prior to the festival submit a portfolio of their work for at least one season, meet additional requirements such as community service and complete an interview process.

The drama group spent about five weeks preparing their performance of “The Laramie Project.” The play tells the story of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was found in October 1998 outside Laramie, Wyo., tied to a fence, beaten and unconscious. He died five days later.

The reaction from the judges at the festival, “wow.”

“I was expecting them to tear us apart,” Jon Jacobs said. “I thought they’d point out every problem and all of a sudden they are saying we’re so good.”

Typically, judges give a critique of the performance, noting what was good and not, but this time there was little to say. One judge said performers know they did well when he writes nothing down in his notes, and that’s exactly what he had done for their performance.

The troupe also spent time watching other schools perform. Prior to the festival some felt as though Whitefish was the underdog, but being at the event changed some minds.

“I thought we were this ragtag team,” Sam Benkelmen said. “I had underestimated our sense of unity and how well we worked together. We’re a great ensemble.”

The festival also reinforced the group’s commitment to “The Laramie Project.”

“One thing that’s special about it is that it’s 100 percent true,” Hunter Cripe said. “Personally, I like knowing that there’s not a line that I couldn’t look up if I wanted to. The way we perform it is so raw and real.”

Kate Ehrenberg said the performance takes on a level of importance that isn’t found in fictional works.

“These are real people,” she said. “You can’t make them up and that puts weight on your shoulders to honor them.”

Individual awards went to Jon Jacobs, recipient of two acting scholarships to The University of Montana; Emma Nixon, first place in the Tongue Twister competition; Branson Faustini, second place in the Death and Dying competition; and Sloan Ellis was elected Vice President of the Montana Student Thespian Board.

Members of the drama group include, in the ensemble production, Hunter Cripe, Saige Perchy, Kate Ehrenberg, Jon Jacobs, Sam Benkelmen, Spencer Hale, Sloan Ellis, Emma Nixon, Branson Faustini, JJ Harris, Che Roussel, and Claire Venery all play multiple roles. They are supported backstage by Abigail Blake, student director; Michael Voisin, technical manager; Holden Roberts, backstage manager; Spenser Eaton on lights; Waylon Roberts on media; Brandon Fuehrer and Jordan Brist on sound; Zach Blumhardt, Tavia Wood and Kaela Metcalf on sets and props; and Gwen Meske and Megan Nielsen on costumes. Wendy McFadden serves as assistant coach.