James Clemens High School, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Schools
James Clemens to represent state at SETC
From James Clemens High School, Student Director Trey Buis, from left, Student Tech Director Bri Smith, Student Director Samantha Ottlinghaus and Assistant Student Tech Director Jake Rebello accept the “Best in Show” award for “The Jungle Book” at state-level Walter J. Trumbauer Drama Festival. “The Jungle Book” will represent Alabama at Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC). CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – At state-level Walter J. Trumbauer Drama Festival with 1,700 students, James Clemens High School’s production of “The Jungle Book” won the “Best in Show” award and was selected to represent Alabama at Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC).
Actors in Jets Theatre will travel to Lexington, Ky. for SETC competition in March 2017. Opelika High School is the other school that will represent the state of Alabama.
James Clemens teachers Amy Patel, as director, and Michael Clint Merritt, as technical director, guided their students to an SETC berth for the second consecutive year.
In addition, Merritt won “Secondary Teacher of the Year” for Alabama Conference of Theatre (ACT).
“The Jungle Book” was recognized for “Best Costumes” with student Sarah Matar as costume crew chief. “A lot of our characters are animals, but we didn’t try to make them look like literal animals; we thought that would look ‘cartoon-y,’ too much like ‘mascots,'” Patel said.
“We had to be really creative to determine the essence of each animal — what physical characteristics were most important to communicate the character — and then determine the materials to use in the costume and hair/makeup,” Patel said.
For the one-act plays, Brittany Quach won “Best Supporting Actress,” and Kyle McCormick was selected as a member of “All Star Cast.”
In competition for Individual Event Awards, James Clemens nabbed these honors:
* Harmony Watson, second place, Solo Acting Female Dramatic Novice
* Tad Hutt and Brittney Quach, first place, Duet Dramatic Acting Varsity
* Ethan Brow, third place, Solo Acting Male Dramatic Novice
* Brittney Quach, first place, Solo Female Dramatic Varsity
* Lauren Parker, third place, Solo Acting Classical Dramatic Novice
* Lauren Parker and Andrew Pharo, third place, Duet Musical Dramatic Novice
* Robert Soto, second place, Scenic Design Novice
* Tad Hutt and Brittney Quach, first place, Duet Dramatic Acting Varsity
* Ethan Brow, third place, Solo Acting Male Dramatic Novice
* Brittney Quach, first place, Solo Female Dramatic Varsity
* Lauren Parker, third place, Solo Acting Classical Dramatic Novice
* Lauren Parker and Andrew Pharo, third place, Duet Musical Dramatic Novice
* Robert Soto, second place, Scenic Design Novice
James Clemens’ interpretation of “The Jungle Book” “incorporates the Indian culture — language, clothing, music and dance,” Patel said. “We went on a field trip to Saffron for lunch one day and used henna to paint designs on our hands and feet. It’s been fun watching them learn how to put on a sari.”
“Our kids are super excited to be representing the state two years in a row at SETC,” Merritt said.
