Bob Jones, James Clemens advance to state drama festival

MADISON – Drama departments at both Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools have advanced with their one-act plays to the 2024 Walter Trumbauer State Drama Festival.

Judges select only two schools from the district to compete at the state-level contest, and the Madison student actors aced those two possibilities. The state festival is scheduled for the University of North Alabama in Florence on Dec. 6-7. Alabama Conference of Theater organizes these events.

The event receives funding in part by a grant from Alabama State Council of the Arts and National Endowment of the Arts.

The Trumbauer Festival has provided quality training and performance opportunities for Alabama theatre students since 1940. The festival consists of 33 individual events, a one-act play festival, a studio play festival and group events for students in grades 9-12.

“We had a wonderful district competition,” Bob Jones drama teacher and Director Mary Davis said. “Our original one-act, ‘Stuck with You’ written by Technical Director and teacher Jesse Tilton, won ‘Best in Show.’” Bob Jones also won awards for “Best Costumes” and “Best Lighting.” Tyler Hatten won the award for “Best Supporting Actor.” Three Bob Jones actors were selected for “All-Star Cast”: Cypress Bryce, Sarah Pierce and Tevin Sheehy.

“An incredible 114 Individual Events qualified for state,” Davis said. “That includes students from Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced Production and Technical Theater classes. So, so proud. It’s a great day to be a Patriot Player.”

“We’re headed to state,” drama teacher and Director Amy Patel said. “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our district Trumbauer results. We’re so excited to continue work on our one-act play, ‘Failure: A Love Story’ and to have 61 Individual Events or IEs get advanced to state.”

“Tell state Trumbauer we’re on our way!” Patel said. Bryan Comer also teaches drama classes at James Clemens and serves as Technical Director.

James Clemens’ actors and ‘techies’ captured awards for “Best Ensemble” and “Best Sound Design.” Juliet Carr claimed the coveted acting award for “Best Leading Performer.” Students won acting recognition by selection to the “All-Star Cast”: Qyler Bowie, Claire Landers, Lena Racelis and Simon Tsikalas.

The two top one-act productions at Alabama’s state Trumbauer festival will advance to the Southeastern Theatre Conference or SETC in Baltimore, Md. on March 17-23.

For more information, visit altheatre.org/Trumbauer.