The cast and crew of Sacred Heart High School's "Among Friends and Clutter" came home from the 2011 Provincial Drama Festival in Regina this weekend with five awards and runner-up honors in two other categories.
"We were just really happy to come away with something that showed how much work we put into it and how well everybody worked together," said Teresa Hartman, who co-directed the play with Kim Wyatt.
The production, which won first at the Region IV Drama Festival in Yorkton at the end of March, received the Gateway Players Award for Best Technical Crew at the provincial festival. In addition, Brittany Ayers won a University of Regina Acting Award for the role of Melissa, Mitchell Corbett was given an Award of Merit for Acting Excellence for the role of Icabod, Awards of Merit for Technical Expertise were presented to Raquel Hackman (Lighting Design) and Kaitlin Woloschuk (Sound Design), and Angeline Stankewich won a Debbie Baker Cheer Award.
The play was runner-up for the Best Visual Production Award, and Sacred Heart's Vicky Lazurko was runner-up for Best Stage Manager.
It was Lazurko's first time working backstage on a play.
"She was an amazing stage manager," said Hartman, who added that Hackman and Woloschuk's technical awards were also "great achievements."
Ayers and Corbett were deserving of their acting awards, the director noted.
"They're both very involved in drama, and I think that was a real personal best for them."
Stankewich, who played the role of Joanne, won the region's Cheer Award-given to a student who exhibits "cooperation, honest endeavor, enthusiasm, and respect"-for her work in supporting her fellow actors.
"She was kind of the glue that brought us all together," said Hackman. "She was always so encouraging and positive."
It was the final performance of Sacred Heart's "Among Friends and Clutter," but the drama group is looking forward to next year.
"It's just been a wonderful experience. We're so very proud of our cast and crew."
