I once photographed 9 one-act plays in a single day, thanks to a previous snow day cancellation. The first performers were on stage by 9 am, and the awards were presented after midnight. Three different audiences were involved and I wouldn't want to guess how much pizza was consumed, but the show went on. Last weekend 79 Maine high schools sent drama teams to nine locations for the annual regional competitions. The Midcoast Regional was hosted this year by Oceanside High School. Here are just a few scenes, backstage and onstage, from the second day of the festival.
Actors from Freeport's "Unhappily Ever After" carry assigned set pieces to the stage. The set must be completed in 5 minutes to qualify for awards and a chance to advance to the finals. Freeport has a tradition of using original scripts by students. Freeport won the Class B category and will advance to the States. Half of the gym is used as a storage area for sets and props; the other is a temporary food court. Ellsworth is next up here. An Ellsworth student emerges from the costume rack to listen to the director's last words of advice to cast and crew A scene from Camden Hill's "Something's Rotten in the State of Denmark". The guys with the swords and the king were named to the All Festival Cast. Locals may know them as (left to right) Donkey, Pinocchio and Shrek from the fall musical. Dave Johanson is the technical director of the festival and keeper of the all-important timer A scene from Lincoln Academy's "Macbeth". Under the direction of Griff Braley, Lincoln Academy is known for serious dramatic productions. They have advanced to the States many times. Oceanside runs through a relaxing warm up before the show Oceanside's "The Neverending Story" took first place in Class A and advances to the State Drama Festival A close-up of the character featured in the shot above Ellsworth uses blue cloth effectively to represent water. Their ensemble won an award for this scene, among others. The total amount of real water allowed onstage has been limited by a new rule in recent years. Let's just say everyone learned the hard way. Excellence in puppetry noted for Cyclops from Ellsworth Lincoln Academy's Lady Macbeth concentrates backstage before the production Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth from Lincoln Academy were named to the All Festival Cast Characters of all sorts could be seen roaming the halls of Oceanside High School. This is Freeport as they head to the stage area. Host director Alison Machaiek has led Oceanside/Rockland to many regional and state titles. She's laughing at the antics of her cast just minutes before the performance. Then she decides it's time to focus and the whole cast responds immediately.
Camden Hills hosts the Class A State Drama Festival March 21 and 22 at the Strom Auditorium
MANY MORE PHOTOS HERE: http://martistonephotography.zenfolio.com/midcoastregionals14
Thanks to second-shooter Colin Stone.
The other schools who participated in the festival, but were not photographed, are Belfast, Wiscasset, Medomak and North Haven