Schools
Stevenson High School captures state title in one-act play festival
Students were challenged to set up and stage a production within a 45-minute period
Stevenson High School’s Titan Theater Troupe claimed the Division I Championship at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association’s one-play festival for its production of Noises Off.
The February 14 state championship at Chelsea High School follows the troupe’s full sweep of first place finishes at district and regional competitions.
The annual MIFA festival challenges students to set up and stage a production within a 45-minute period.
The students are judged on ten categories focused on acting, technical aspects and overall presentation. Judges were Michael Gillespie from Oakland University, Robin Nott from Gull Lake High School and Bill Anderson from the Midland Center for the Arts.
In addition to the championship, Stevenson students earned four additional Superior awards at the state festival: seniors Samantha Welsing and Justin Ward won for stage set design and Jacob Burns and Andy Smilnak won for acting.
The entire cast also earned a Superior rating: Burns, Smilnak, Ward and Welsing, along with seniors Taylor Neubauer, Mark Ujkstivani and Justin Winters and juniors Victoria Smilnak and Julia Lenart.
Student directors for the production were seniors Katie Lanoue and Toni Ferrara-Skiba. The Titan Theater Troupe is directed by teacher Mark Johnson.
Noises Off, by Michael Frayn, is a satire of life in the theater.
