Aggie Theatre Named State Champs

Parts of this article first appeared in the Dec. 31 edition of The Sand Mountain Leader. 

Albertville High School’s drama students also claimed a number of awards at the district competition in the 85th annual Walter S. Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival., including “Best in Show” honors for their one-act play. Their top-five Best in Show finish at state made them state champions.

Albertville drama teacher Sara Argiro explained that the Trumbauer Theatre Festival consists of 30 individual events, including a one-act play festival and a studio theatre one-act play festival for students in grades 9–12, as well as scholarship auditions and college screenings for high school seniors and junior college students.

Students qualify for state competition by earning a rating of “Superior” at one of seven district festivals. At all levels of competition, students receive critiques from qualified teachers, professionals, and theatre practitioners, helping them improve theatrical skills and gain confidence in public speaking. Argiro noted that Trumbauer is the largest theatrical event in Alabama, with more than 2,500 high school students attending the state event each year.

Albertville’s Aggie Theatre competed with its fall play, Lafayette No. 1, in the one-act portion of the festival. District competition was held Saturday, Nov. 1, at Albertville High School.

“We hosted over 400 students, parents, teachers, and theatrical professionals,” Argiro said.

At district competition, the Aggie Theatre production received the following awards:

• All-Star Cast Awards: Abbi Brown, Addy Eason, and Kimberly Kuhn

• Best Lead Performances: Braedon Burke and MaKenna Brown

• Best Costumes

• Best Lighting Design

• Best Sound Design

• Best Ensemble

• Best in Show

Because Albertville earned Best in Show, the play advanced to the state competition on Dec. 6 at UAB.

At the state level, Albertville High School students received:

• Top 5 Best in Show, making them State Champions

• All-Star Cast Awards for Abbi Brown, Addy Eason, Braedon Burke, MaKenna Brown, and Cassondra Smith

In addition, Braedon Burke and Soña Ramos took first place in their individual comedic acting events.

Aggie Theatre will present Into the Woods April 10–12 and April 16–18. The production will feature advanced theatre students in grades 9–12 and will be entered in Alabama’s Tallulah Awards, the regional level of the national Jimmy Awards.