Falcons, Spartans make state memories with successful one-act play performances

Students from Lincoln Northwest and Lincoln East wrote state-level success stories with their efforts in one-act play contests.
 
Both teams competed in the Nebraska School Activities Association state play production championships Dec. 8 in Norfolk. East represented Lincoln Public Schools in Class A and Northwest participated in Class B.
 
The Falcons and Spartans made school history under the state spotlight. Northwest students qualified for state for the first time, while East collected just the sixth state berth in program history. The Spartans also qualified in 1977, 1979, 1982, 2021 and 2022.
 
Northwest
Northwest students captured a fourth-place prize at the Johnny Carson Theatre. The Falcons performed “Lafayette No. 1” for an auditorium full of fans, judges and fellow actors and actresses.
 
Samm Hanks directed the play, Kai Jorgensen was assistant director and Jenna Williamson was theater technician. Hanks said she was thrilled with the group’s effort on stage.
 
“I am so proud of my students,” Hanks said. “It is amazing that we could accomplish this our second year as a department and my first year with the district. It’s a real testament to how amazing our students are!”
 
A panel of three judges reviewed each state play. They awarded schools a maximum of 60 points in the categories of voice, characterization, ensemble, timing, staging and overall effectiveness.
 
Judges also ranked each school’s performance with numbers of one to six. The total rank served as a tiebreaker if judges gave two or more teams an equal number of points.
 
Northwest and Minden each received 169 points. The Falcons earned fourth place with a total rank of 12. Minden received a total rank of 14.
 
The Falcons qualified for state by winning the District B-3 championship. Northwest scored 178 points and claimed the Outstanding Technical Crew Award at districts.
 
Northwest cast members included Lisa Adolphi, Lennon Barrett, Savannah Bauer, Da’Vion Bland, Brooklyn Gibson, Ada Hanson, Imari Harris, Amelia Hart, Madison Lemons, Madilyn Maguire, Roslynn Provance, Emily Paffrath, Elsy Hanson, Amelia Coughlin, Margaret Miller, Riley Levos, Jayden Heinlein, Olivia Butters, Isabella Butters, Grant Johnson, Charlotte Coughlin, Bianca Vannier, Jonah Hagge, Nicholas Niedbalski, Kimberly Menendez, Adjoua Boko, Cassandra Colgrove, Ellie Ramirez, Madelyn McIntosh, Beaudon Brown, Emelia McInteer and Jonah Forry.
 
Technical crew members included Savannah Alder, Madison Ball, Constanza Barreras Ponce, Jayden Bedea, Hailey Chadd, Cade Chiles, Audrey Coatney, Anna Fullerton, Xavier Hamilton, Cassidy Hanson, Mesa Koertje, Karen Mendoza, Eli Retzlaff, Halley Seyler, Kaylee Stearman, Regan Swedlund and Natalie Williams.

Hanks said she felt the Falcons learned a great deal from their state experience.
 
“I think the biggest thing my students learned at state was how to hold onto their strengths and abilities in the face of a challenge,” Hanks said. “We were the only state-qualifying school in Class B that was not previously at state the year prior. That was pretty daunting to us, but the kids did a great job of pushing themselves to compete.”
 
Class B State Play Production Team Results
York 179, Omaha Concordia 177, Ogallala 173, Lincoln Northwest 169 (won tiebreaker), Minden 169, Schuyler 165
 
East
The Spartans collected fifth place at state with their performance of “A Monster Calls.” Helen Cooper directed the play and Erin Bell and Pat Vendetti were assistant directors.
 
Cooper said it was an honor for the group to compete in Norfolk. Judges gave East 171 points and a total rank of 12.
 
“I cannot express how proud I am of the entire cast and crew for putting their hearts and souls into this production,” Cooper said. “The subject matter – loss, grief, guilt, loneliness – took maturity and vulnerability. The show was physically arduous on our ensemble and emotionally taxing on our leads. The tech elements were the most involved they have ever been.
 
“Every single team member dedicated themselves to weeks of rehearsal and I will never not be thankful for that. This is our third year in a row going to state, and the kids in this production are the ones who have built the foundation for that success.”

 
East cast members included Max Apel, Claire Rooney, Nusrat Amin, Evan Volkmer, Maggie Lammie, Dasha Muller, Ashley Nabb, Sam Nabb, Linnea Blankenhorn, Delton Dellinger, Hope Gibbons, Ethan Phan, Ava Schmit, Zachary Johannes, Berkley Nielsen, Myles Hardt, Jack Welstead, Ava Swank, Alexandria Hansen, Lilly Pannier, Margeaux Allen, Piper Beran, Ava Chapin, Helina Cooper, Ella Halvorsen and Lillian Jimenez-McBride.
 
Members of the technical crew included Alexa Boyce, Georgia Eberhardt, Raiyn Elerson, Avery Fast, Adison Harris, Rachel Hoffman, Cing Kip Hung, Melinda Lierz, Trenton Morales, Cing Muang, Zoey Ott, Emily Schmersal, Cinae Schneider, Mimi Strong, Eloisa Swinehart and Jerrica Zhang.
 
The Spartans advanced to state with a runner-up finish in the District A-2 Meet. Gretna East collected 177 points and Lincoln East was second with 176 points.
 
The school pocketed two major district honors. East won the Outstanding Technical Crew Award and Nusrat Amin earned the Outstanding Female Performer Award.
 
Cooper said she was happy to see the Spartans gain many lifelong skills during their state-qualifying season.
 
“All of them learned what it is to work as a team,” Cooper said. “I don’t know that we’ve ever quite gotten to that team aspect in past productions, and that was my favorite part to watch.”
 
Class A State Play Production Team Results
Gretna East 179, Malcolm 175 (rank of 7), Gretna 176 (rank of 8), Fremont 172, Lincoln East 171, Kearney 164
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

---