Drama students show their talents at district contests

PALM COAST — Flagler County’s young thespians upstaged their rivals recently during two multi-county competitions.

The high school contest was held in November at Lyman High School in Seminole County. It drew some 1,300 competitors.

Austin Branning and Gerald Kitt of Flagler Palm Coast High School won the Best in Show trophy in the Duet Acting category.

The duo gave School Board members a sample of their skills recently at the board’s final regular meeting of the year. They performed a humorous scene from Peter Dee’s “Voices from the High School,” with one character demonstrating his Shakespearean proficiency and the other providing a cynical counterpoint.

They will take their act to the Florida State Thespians state competition March 16-19 in Tampa.

FPC drama teacher Kelly Rivera told School Board members about one of the advantages for students taking part in the state competition: workshops with the pros. Representatives from Broadway, Disney, Hollywood and the cruise lines help students find a career path that aligns with their talents.

“So when people say, ‘It’s not feasible to work in the theater,’ yes it is,” she said.

Also from FPC, Justin Luteri, Gerald Kitt and Daniel Roman got honorable mention in the Enseble Acting category.

The drama department is planning a fundraiser to help the students travel to the state festival. The performers will present two one-act plays on Feb. 4-6 at the FPC Bistro.

From Matanzas High School, Edward Bazzell and Emma Grushkin earned an honorable mention at the district competition in the Duet Acting category.

The Flagler Palm Coast troupe garnered 12 “superior” ratings, four “excellents” and one “good” over eight categories. The Matanzas High School troupe got 10 “superiors,” six “excellents” and three “goods” over 11 categories.

The middle school festival was held at Winter Springs High School in Seminole County. Buddy Taylor Middle School won Best of Show for its large group number, “Pandemonium.”

The Buddy Taylor Middle School troupe got seven “superiors” and seven “excellents.” Those with a “superior” rating will go on to the state competition in February.

Ann Paris, director of chorus, dance and musical theater at the school, said the students had to learn not only the lyrics to the songs and to project their voices, but also the background of the scene and they had to analyze their characters.

“I am very proud of the enthusiastic, talented students I get to work with here at Buddy Taylor Middle School,” she stated in an email.