All-State honors given out

Nineteen Green River thespians recently received All-State honors after attending the Wyoming State Thespian Festival.

Green River High School theater director Bradlee Skinner said in order to obtain a state title, students must receive a superior rating for their performance in the category they have entered. These categories are often judged by two or three judges who determine the rating.

Students compete in various categories including, monologue acting, duet acting, group acting, solo musical theatre, duet musical theatre, group musical theatre, novice monologues, novice scenes, scenic design, make-up design, original script writing, publicity/marketing, lighting design, costume design, sound design, costume construction, stage management and short film.

"Last year, we had four students receive all-state honors," Skinner said. "This year, we increased that number to 19. It tells me that we are headed in the right direction and providing students with opportunities to improve their skills and be recognized for their work."

Skinner said seeing how the excited the students got when they received the awards was a treat.

"Hearing their names called at the awards ceremony is a special moment and seeing the joy in their faces as all their hard work paid off is a wonderful moment," Skinner said.

State drama is a way for the students to learn and take something back from their experience.

"Hopefully, it shows those students who received this honor to keep working and continue to produce high-quality work and for those who did not; it may provide them with the motivation they need to get there next year."

The students weren't the only ones who received an award, Skinner was named Wyoming Theater Director of the Year for 2018 at the festival.

"I was honored, of course, but I was humbled as well. This is an award which is voted on by theater teachers from all over the state," Skinner said. "I love and admire the work they are doing to have them recognize the work we are doing here at Green River truly means a great deal to me."

Skinner said nominations are given to the festival committee who then presents the nominees at the final meeting of the theaters teachers and directors. On the last day of the festival a ballot vote is hosted to determine the winner of the award.

Skinner wanted the award to speak about his work with the students.

"Hopefully, it says that the work we are doing on state is of a high quality, but most of all I hope it says that I am a director who cares about his students and wants them to succeed in whatever they do," he said.

Skinner has been at GRHS as its director for the past two years, but he has been teaching in Wyoming for five years.

For the future of the theater program, Skinner would like to continue producing high-quality productions and increase the number of community members in attendance at those productions.

"Perhaps the more awards and recognition our program receives we may be able to encourage those who may be reluctant to attend the theatre to come out and enjoy the work these fine students are producing," he said.

Wyoming State Thespian Festival Results

All-State recipients

Novice monologues: Jordan McAnarney

Group acting: Jaron Shereda, Raymond Garcia, Kiyonna Howard, Sandra Figenser, Emmalee Skinner, Tristen Higbee, Ethan Peterson, Timmy Golightly, Jordan Ferrell, Amber Gambles, Abbey Atkinson and Trista Parry for their performances in Act III of "The Crucible."

Group musical theater: Sandra Figenser, Kamryn Ferrell, Katherine Skinner, Emmalee Skinner, Angelina Gilbert and Jordan Ferrell for their performance of "The Cell Block Tango" from Chicago.

Honorable Mentions

Stage management; Emmalee Skinner

Duet varsity scenes; Jordan Ferrell and Sierra Bird, and Kamryn Ferrell and Tristen Higbee

Novice monologue: Kiyonna Howard

Varsity monologue, Kassi Jo Rasmussen, Jordan Ferrell and Elora Siler

Small group acting: Anthony Murphy, JD Renfro, Wyatt Cudney and Rocco Coppolo

Solo musical theatre: Kamryn Ferrell, Sierra Bird, and Sandra Figenser

Group musical theater: Raymond Garcia, Tristen Higbee, Ty Higbee, Jaron Shereda, Ethan Peterson and Elijah Kropf for their performance of "With Catlike Tread" from Pirates of Penzance, and Emmie Archibald, Emily Peak and Torie Green for their singing of "I Know It's Today" from Shrek, the Musical.

Duet musical; Sandra Figenser and Timmy Golightly for their performance of "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors, and Emmalee Skinner and Kamryn Ferrell for their performance of "We Make a Beautiful Pair" from Shenandoah. Jordan Ferrell and Emmalee Skinner for their performances in the Devised Theatre/One-Act Play production of "The 7th Grade Viking."