Peabody High Drama Club Delivers Award-Winning Performance

PEABODY, MA — The Peabody High Stage One Drama Club racked up several awards — including the regional award for best production — at the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival.

The Drama Club's performance of the one-act play "Small Mouth Sounds" earned top honors at the April 2 festival that also included The Academy of Penguin Hall, Quabbin Regional, Georgetown, Wayland and Boston Latin.

The production was the story of six strangers who head into the woods for a silent retreat and must find a way to communicate with one another as they confront internal demons.

"We want to extend a special thank you to the members of the Peabody Public Schools community who came out on an early Saturday morning to support our student artists," theater teacher Stephanie Manning said. "They continue to work hard and dedicate so much of themselves in order to create high-level, quality theater each year and we couldn’t be more proud."

Emma Fitzgerald and Eva Joyce earned the Stage Manager's Award, Adam Cunha and Julia Leite earned the Excellence in Sound Design and Operation Award, Ryn Brierley earned the Excellence in Acting Award, Abrianna Oullette and Maya Yaffe earned the Excellence in Lighting Design and Operation Award and John Howland earned the Excellence in Music Composition Award.

In addition to the group award, several Peabody students earned individual awards:

"Ms. Manning and her crew have done an incredible job adapting and adjusting to the challenges of the pandemic, and this success is just the latest example of their impressive work," Superintendent Josh Vadala said. "Performing arts have always been a great source of pride for us
in Peabody and this group has really gone above and beyond."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)