Trumbauer returns Patriots to SETC, names Jets best in tech

At the Walter J. Trumbauer Drama Festival, Bob Jones High School’s one-act play, “The Standard Deviation,” qualified to compete at the 2015 Southeastern Theatre Conference in Chattanooga. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – At the Walter J. Trumbauer Drama Festival, both Madison high schools earned numerous state awards for their outstanding shows and individual performances.

Most notably, Bob Jones High School will advance with its one-act play to the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and James Clemens High School claimed “Best Technical Performance” for its play.

In its 74th year, the Trumbauer festival is sponsored by the Alabama Conference of Theatre. Drama troupes from across Alabama competed at Troy State University on Dec. 4-6.

“This was our fourth consecutive state festival win, and we’re SETC bound yet again,” B. Dwayne Craft said. Craft and Mary Davis are drama coaches at Bob Jones.

Bob Jones will advance to the SETC Convention in Chattanooga on March 4-8 to present its one-act play, “The Standard Deviation,” in competition against drama programs from several states in the Southeast.

In other kudos, Bob Jones won the “Best Set” award. Actors Emeline Earman and Chance were named to the All-Star Cast.

“This (year) is the seventh time in the past 18 years Bob Jones has won and is a state record for progressing to SETC,” public relations manager John Peck said. “Both schools had numerous first, second and third places in individual events.”

James Clemens’ one-act play, the classical “The Frogs,” earned one of five “Best in Show” awards, a prestigious nod for any school and director and drama teacher Amy Patel.

Skyler Mittman, Nadia Harden and Derek Santiago were named to the All-Star Cast.

Also from James Clemens, Nadia Harden was recognized as first alternate for a $1,000 conference scholarship. Alabama Conference of Theatre named James Clemens drama teacher Clint Merritt as vice-chairman of the secondary division for Trumbauer 2015.