OLCHS Contest Play Advances To IHSA State Finals

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Community High School’s theater program took home the sectional championship this past weekend at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. The Spartans’ contest play, “Wolf At The Door,” advanced to the IHSA state finals March 24 and March 25 at Glenwood High School in Chatham.

Mariana Salazar, Mariam Chuli, Melanie Cabrera, Jet Peleaz, Matthew Perry, Shawn Perry, Vasili Patrianakos, and Kathryn Fragapane were all given the honor of All-Sectional Cast for Contest Play, an award that recognizes excellent acting or stage crew.

The contest play cast includes Mariana Salazar, Melanie Cabrera, Mariam Chuli, Jet Palaez, Mustafa Trashani, Emiliano Ruvalcaba, Rosie Caprio, and Haven Rupsch. The crew includes Taylor Micele, Bel Davison, Fay Galvan, Ember Hansen, Lily Hansen, Quinn Haywood, Vanessa Hernandez, Volcan Hernandez, Aimee Lopez, Sofie Mathews, Kai McNulty, Saeed Mulhem, Luke Roskos, Amber Trigg, Ethan Zumhagen, Orlando Ramirez, Max Cipriani, Emma Faucault-Miller, Layla Nemri, Maya Quiñonez, Tori Prause, Sam Bergamo, Chesca Crosby, Gianna Golden, Olivia Kobylarczyk, Mikey Mills, Fotis Patrianakos, Hailey Rabideaux, Maggie Sheehan, and Amelia Wiski.

Assistant director Samantha Eilliot said watching the students work closely to create the and focus on their development and overall performance was inspiring. Cast and crew have been working and shaping the production since January.

“It has been such an incredible season for these students,” Elliot said. “To have earned the incredible feedback we have received so far has just been so valuable and powerful. The students have taken on the ownership of their characters, worked cohesively as a team, and have grown as not only individual performers but as leaders”

“The crew has been so talented, hardworking, and motivated to create and shape this show in some of the most important ways,” she added.

OLCHS group interpretation finished fourth in the sectional. The all-sectional cast for group interpretation includes Orlando Ramirez, Max Cipriani, Emma Faucault-Miller, Layla Nemri, and Maya Quiñonez. The group performed scenes from “Lamb.”

The Marian Catholic sectional was one of six taking place last weekend that also included Thornton, Lake Park, Richards, Olympia Fields and Sterling high schools. The Richards Bulldogs also advanced to state after winning their sectional for contest play.

~ Contributed by Jennifer Jepsen, OLCHS Staff Writer