Teams from Cheyenne East, Powell, Wright Win State Drama Sweepstakes Awards

Cheyenne East High School, Powell High School and Wright High School were the sweepstakes winners at the recent three-day Wyoming State Drama (WSD) competition at the University of Wyoming.

More than 600 students representing 32 Wyoming school districts competed, and more than 100 parents, judges, coaches and sponsors participated in supporting the event, says Cecilia Aragon, UW Department of Theatre and Dance associate professor, and the WSD producer.

Students competed in individual and team competitions.

Cheyenne East High School was named the 4A sweepstakes winner; Powell High School took the 3A sweepstakes award; and Wright topped the 1A/2A category.

“I am pleased with the results and outcomes of participation with students, coaches, sponsors and parents,” says Aragon, who has helped with the WSD the past 12 years. “This year, in particular, marks the largest WSD that we have seen in the program’s history.”

Aragon was pleased with the students’ level of competition.

“The students are talented, motivated, enthusiastic, courageous, intelligent and driven, which means we saw a lot more of a competitive spirit between students,” she says. “I have judged students when they first enter in this competition as freshmen in high school, and have seen them compete all through to their senior year. I am always impressed how these students grow and get better year after year, and the rewarding part is they often rank in this competition. I love to see this growth.”

Students were judged in such categories as one-act play categories -- proscenium, arena, group and performance art; monologues -- humorous and dramatic; two-person scenes -- humorous and dramatic; scenic design; costume design; makeup design -- real and fantasy; lighting design; publicity; and original scripts -- one-act, monologue and duet.

For a complete list of individual and team winners, visit the Wyoming Educators of Secondary Theatre (WEST) webpage at www.wysecondarytheatre.org/ and click on the “2016 State Drama Results” icon.

The annual event, held since 1972, was originally the State Drama Festival, with International Thespian activities part of the festivities. In 1989, the state drama event became a competition, which is now a Wyoming High School Activities Association-scheduled event. WEST, which sponsors the annual event, supports and enhances quality theater education in Wyoming schools.

For more information about the WSD, call Aragon at (307) 766-2164 or email her at ccaragon@uwyo.edu.