James Clemens Theatre awarded at state festival for play, individuals

MADISON – Actors and technical crew members in James Clemens Theatre earned numerous honors at the state-level Walter Trumbauer Theatre Festival.

The University of North Alabama hosted the festival on Dec. 1-2.

Each school can present a one-act play at Trumbauer. James Clemens opted for “Metamorphoses” (based on the myths of Ovid) by Mary Zimmerman. Scenes from Metamorphoses earned a Superior rating.

James Clemens actors selected for inclusion in the “All-Star Cast” were Ella Gibbons, Connor McDougal and Connery Patel.

James Clemens actors and ‘techies’ will reprise “Metamorphoses” with a performance at the 2024 Alabama Thespian Festival on Feb. 16-17 at Vestavia Hills High School.

The results of James Clemens’ students in Individual Events or IEs included 14 trophies, 33 ratings of Superior and nine ratings of Excellent.

These students performed in a solo or duet IE and earned place wins in various categories:

* Pantomime (Varsity) — Adelyn Speas, third place.

* Duet Reader’s Theatre (Varsity) — Ziva Blount and Camden Pickens, third.

* Acting Dramatic, Pre-1900 (Intermediate) – Qyler Bowie, first.

* Acting Comedic, Pre-1900 (Intermediate) — Ella Gibbons, second; Brooke Bogardus, third.

* Acting Dramatic, 1900-1974 (Novice) — Camille Leffler, second; Kate Butler, third.

* Acting Dramatic, 1975-2004 (Varsity) — Julia Sloan, third.

* Duet Acting Drama, 1975 to present (Novice) — Kaela Cronan and Madison Lively, first.

* Duet Acting Comedy, 1975 to present (Varsity) — Emmy Harrison and Lorelei Mueller, first; Connor McDougal and Connery Patel, second.

* Musical Comedy, 2017 to present (Intermediate) — Lena Racelis, first.

* Stage Management (Novice) — Jessie Collins, third.

Instructors for theatre at James Clemens are Bryan Comer and Amy Patel.

For more information, visit Facebook/James Clemens Theatre.