The 2000-2001 Theater Arts Year In Review #1. The West Texas A&M Speech and Theater Camp held in Canyon, Texas saw six Lubbock High students attend Theater Camp on June 17th through 29th. Andrew Stewart (Tonio, Taddeo) and Adam Coggins (Finn, Harlequin) appeared in I Pagliacci, the famous opera, by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. Mr. Stewart was awarded a superior acting award and Mr. Coggins received an outstanding award for his excellence in acting. Jason Lovelady (Tommy) and Kendall Simpson (Tood) performed in The Cover of Life by R.T. Robinson. Both had the privilege of performing in the Top Show at Camp. Mr. Lovelady was awarded a Superior Acting Award and Ms. Simpson was given an Excellence Award for outstanding work. Taylor Attebury (Alan Seymour) and Andrew Richey (Howard Bevans) were seen in the gritty production of Picnic by William Inge. Mr. Attebury was given an excellence award for acting and Mr. Richey received an Outstanding Acting award for his excellent portrayal of the role of Howard. Adam Coggins also won the Outstanding Performer at the Camp Talent Show. Congratulations to these fine students. #2. Mr. Sidwell was the first Lubbock High Theater Coach to direct at the West Texas A&M Speech and Theater Camp. His production of Strider received Best Actor at Camp along with three Outstanding Acting Awards and two Excellences in Acting awards. This unusual play, based upon the Broadway Musical adapted from a Tolstoy novel, contained singing, dancing and acting. Phillip Vaden, recent graduate of Lubbock High School, served as assistant director for this production. Congratulations Phillip on a job well done. #3. Three talented students from Lubbock High School attended the Texas Tech University Theater Arts Camp during the time of July 9th through 21st. They were Taylor Attebury, Cassidy Elms and Cassandra Gallegos. Taylor Attebury (Gianni Schicchi) and Cassandra Gallegos (Franciesca) appeared in the noted production of Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. Recent Gianni Schicchi cast members included Brian Bell (Gianni Schicchi) and Jason Lovelady (Runiccio). Cassidy Elms (Ensemble) also appeared in the famous London play, Blood Brothers by Willey Russell. Gianni Schicchi was directed by the noted, Ms. Denise Green. Blood Brothers was directed by the favorite and acclaimed Dr. George Sorensen. #4. Jason Lovelady and John Mark Chauncey received top honors (Straight Superior Ratings) at the Universal Cheerleading Association Summer Camp where they appeared as Mascots. They were awarded the U.C.A. Leadership Award. This is the highest award given to a Mascot in the State of Texas. Jason Lovelady also received the All-Star Mascot and was asked to travel to the Citrus Bowl to perform. Jason is the president of the International Thespian Society at Lubbock High School. Mr. Sidwell served as a trainer and sponsor for the mascots until he removed himself due to conflicts with scheduling. Congratulations to these wonderful, talented young men and their outstanding service to Lubbock High School. #5. Melodrama in the Park, which is sponsored by the Lubbock Parks and Recreations Department, saw several students from L.H.S. in its ranks. Susan Keeling (Melody Truelove) and Annie Jones (Will Faithful) gave up a portion of their summer to entertain hundreds of individuals as they watched atop the grass and in the heat within various Lubbock’s Parks. Susan and Annie appeared in this original production of Because Their Hearts Were Pure directed by Beth McBrayer. A special thanks goes out to these individuals for bringing more laughter into our world. Thank you Annie and Susan. #6. Shakespeare in the Park, which is also sponsored by the Lubbock Parks and Recreations Department, had a great portion of its cast recruited from Lubbock High School Theater Department. Romeo and Juliet directed by long time favorite, Tim McIntire, drew large crowds. Andrew Stewart (Romeo), Susan Keeling (Juliet), and Adam Coggins (Gregory) provided wonderful moments for the audience. Other Lubbock High cast members included: Chase Brown (Ensemble), Phillip Coggins (Baltizar), and Alec Winner (Samson). Thank you all for a fine performance. #7. Lubbock High School Theater Department opened its season with the powerful and moving production of Scenes From Blood Brothers by Willey Russell. Lubbock High was fortunate to serve as host to one of the finest guest directors in the nation, Dr. George Sorensen - professor emeritus from Texas Tech University. Dr. Sorensen has 39 years of experience in the theater profession. He has directed over 175 productions and is recipient of the Texas Educational Theater Association’s Founders Award and the Educator of the Year Award. He is past president of Texas Educational Theater Association and has taught on the Junior High, High School, College and University levels. During the seven years he taught high school, his productions advanced to the state level four times, and his production of Becket won first place. He has served as critic judge at the state meet twenty times. He has also judged numerous times at all levels of the U.I.L. One-Act Play Contest. It is with deepest pride and affection that we honor Dr. Sorensen with our highest award given to our students: The Dr. George Sorensen Pursuit of Excellence Award. Dr. Sorensen was also honored as our selection for Educator of the Year. George continues to make theater a magical place with infinite possibilities. Dr. Soerensen, you continue to be our Hero! The Cast of Scenes from Blood Brothers include: Adam Coggins (Narrator/Milkman), Scott Birney (Musician/On Stage Technician), Tarek Karkoutly (Musician/On Stage Technician), Kendall Simpson (Musician/On Stage Technician), Ashley Forman (Mrs. Johnstone), Jason Lovelady (Mickey), Taylor Attebury (Edward), Paige Fillipp (Mrs. Lyons), Andrew Stewart (Mr. Lyons), Andrew Richey (Sammy), Susan Keeling (Linda), Michael Duhan (Bus Conductor /Child/Student), Cassidy Elms (Nurse/ Mickey’s Teacher), Cassandra Gallegos (Linda’s Mate"friend"/Child/Student), Erica Prismantas (Neighbor/Child/Student), Jordan Robins (Policeman), Austin Terrell (Edward’s Teacher/Doctor), and Alan Winner (Perkins/Prison Guard/Child/Student). Technical Staff includes: Dr. George Sorensen (Director), Peter Grueninger (Technical Director), Molly Burkhalter (Assistant Director), Sarah Pollack (Production Manager), J.T. Cotton (Lighting Manager), Alan Branson (Assistant Lighting Manager), Aaron Taylor (Video Director) and Jonathan Patty (Video Director), Ian Hill (Props Director), Rebecca Saathoff (Costume Director), Amanda Faulkner (Assistant Costume Director), Graham Shelly (Sound Director),Yohanna Logan (Program/Publicity Director), Jeri Ochoa (Makeup and Hair Design Director), Jared Lancaster (Spotlights and Ropes), Sonny Carter (Assistant Lights and Sound), and Advanced Theater Students (House Crew).Awards were follows: Best Actors-Jason Lovelady and Taylor Attebury, Best Actess-Ashley Forman and Susan Keeling, Best Supporting Actress-Paige Fillipp, Best Supporting Actor-Adam Coggins and Andrew Stewart, Best Cameos-Tarek Karkoutly, Cassidy Elms, Cassandra Gallegos, Alan Winner, Austin Terrell, Director’s Award-Erica Prismantas, Taylor Attebury, Andrew Stewart, Andrew Richey, Michael Duhan, Jason Lovelady, Yohanna Logan, Jared Lancaster, Sonny Carter, Graham Shelly, Amanda Faulkner, Adam Coggins, Ian Hill, Alan Branson and Aaron Taylor. Best Trouper-Kendall Simpson, Adam Coggins, Andrew Stewart, Taylor Attebury and Jason Lovelady. Outstanding Technicians- Molly Burkhalter, Sarah Pollack, J.T. Cotton, Aaron Taylor, Jeri Ochoa, Rebecca Saathoff, and Jonathan Patty. #8. Jason Lovelady and Andrew Stewart were nominated as the Lubbock High School’s top choices for the Susan Masters Outstanding High School Theater Student Award. This Southwest Theater Association award was created to honor the top students within a five-state area (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana). Lubbock High School has won this award since its inception five years ago. Past winners include: Shara Narayan (University of Tulsa), Matthew Cross (St. Edwards University), Ryan Kuratko (University of Chicago), and Emily Barker (University of Texas at Austin). #9. Ten actors and seven technicians from Lubbock High School participated in the Annual L.I.S.D. Theater Marathon 2000 under the direction of Royal Brantley from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas on October 29th. Together with students from Monterey High School and Coronado High School (along with Hutchinson Junior High and O.L. Slaton Junior High), this talented and highly motivated group completed the play, Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker in less than three days. They built a breathtaking set, collected props and costumes, created sound and light plots and published a program all the while learning to work together as a team. Lubbock High Cast members included: Austin Terrell (Captain Arthur Phillip, Royal Navy), Jason Lovelady (2nd Lieutenant Ralph Clark, Royal Marines), Andrew Richey (Midshipman Harry Brewer, Royal Navy, Provost Marshal), Andrew Stewart (John Arscott), Taylory Attebury (Robert Sideway), Adam Coggins (John Wisehammer), Cassidy Elms ( Mary Brenham), Paige Fillipp (Dabby Bryant), Susan Keeling (Liz Morden), Kendall Simpson (Female Convict). Technical Staff includes: Mr. Royal Brantley (Director), J.T. Cotton (Set Crew Head), Jordan Robins (Set Crew Staff), Ashley Forman (Costume Crew Head), Sarah Pollack (Costume Crew Head), Michael Duhan (Video Crew Head), Jared Lancaster (Video Crew), and Graham Shelly (Sound and Crew Staff). Our Country’s Good is set in the late 1780’s. The leaders of England were desperate to rid their country of what they called the "marauders within": the many petty thieves, pickpockets, and ruffians that filled the streets of London. Shipping prisoners to Australia was the answer. Captain Arthur Phillip landed on the Coast of Australia with some 800 convicts and 200 English soldiers. Captain Phillips did not want only a penal colony he wanted civilization with culture and education, and of course, he wanted justice. Governor Phillip tried his best to create citizens rather than convicts. Our Country’s Good is not only about society’s preoccupation with prisons and its fear of forgetfulness towards education and the arts, it is about theater, and how it serves to bring dignity and thought and passion to its audiences and players alike. This is the sixth year of the L.I.S.D. Theater Marathon. Each cast and crew member received an excellence award for their outstanding achievements. #10 Eight senior students traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas to attend the Southwest Theater Conference (S.W.T.C.) where they garnished over 81 callbacks (potential scholarships) from over twenty-one colleges and universities from across the Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana area. The S.W.T.C. represents colleges, universities, and community theaters that have a shared interest in the field of theater. The students attending the conference and scholarship auditions include: Adam Coggins, Paige Fillipp, Ashley Forman, Cassandra Gallegos, Susan Keeling, Jason Lovelady, Andrew Stewart, Andrew Richey. Assisted by junior Taylor Attebury. Congratulations to these students. #11 Jason Lovelady became the fifth Lubbock High School student to garnish the coveted Southwest Theater Conference’s Susan Masters Outstanding High School Theater Student for the year 2001. Among the criteria for the award were Grade Point Average, Resume, Extra-Curricular Activities, Acting/Technical Experience, Previous Honors and Awards, Community Service and Letters of Recommendation from Various Teachers and Community Leaders. Thank you Jason for continuing a tradition of excellence at Lubbock High School. #12 The musical, Strider adapted from a short story by Leo Tolstoy, was the second musical show of the season. Andrew Stewert (Strider), Austin Terrell (Count Bobrinsky/Gypsy/Herd Member), Adam Coggins (Vaska/Gypsy/Herd Member), Andrew Rickhey (Vaska/Gypsy/Herd Member), Paige Fillipp (Viazapurikha/Gypsy/Herd Member), Ashley Forman (Viazapurikha/Gypsy/Herd Member), Alan Winner (Groom /Lieutenant/Gypsy/Herd Member), Taylor Attebury (Groom/Gypsy/Herd Member), Jordan Robins (Darling/ Lieutenant/Gypsy/Herd Member), Jason Lovelady (Prince Serpuhovsky/Gypsy/Herd Member), Tarek Karkoutly (General/Gypsy/Herd Member), Kendall Simpson (Baba/Gypsy/Herd Member), Susan Keeling (Baba/Gypsy/Herd Member), Scott Birney (Feofan/Gypsy/Herd Member), Erica Prismantas (Mathieu/Gypsy/Herd Member), Lindsey Fleming (Mathieu/Gypsy/Herd Member), Cassandra Gallegos (Gypsy/Herd Member), Cassidy Elms (Gypsy/Herd Member), Rebeca Saathoff (Gypsy/Herd Member), Molly Burkhalter (Gypsy), Michael Duhan (Gypsy/Herd Member), Ian Hill (Gypsy/Herd Member), Michael Helfrich (Gypsy/Herd/Herd Member). Congratulations to the cast of Strider. This brilliantly acted musical, based on the short story by Leo Tolstoy, is the second musical of the season. Cast members danced, acted, and sang their way across the stage and into our hearts. We are extremely proud of your continued excellence and dedication to your craft. You are making memories for a lifetime. You make us very proud! The awards are as follows: Best Actors-Andrew Stewart and Jason Lovelady, Best Actress-Ashley Forman and Paige Fillipp, Best Supporting Actors-Adam Coggins, Alan Winner, and Andrew Richey, Best Supporting Actress-Erica Prismantas, Cassidy Elms and Rebecca Saathoff, Best Cameos-Taylor Attebury, Michael Duhan, Cassandra Gallegos, Best Troupers-Cassandra Gallegos, Kendall Simpson, Rebecca Saathoff, Taylor Attebury, Jason Lovelady, Andrew Stewart, Austin Terrell, Yohanna Logan, Jordan Robins, and Pam Taylor. Best Technicians include: J.T. Cotton, Mr. Peter Grueninger, Sarah Pollack, Molly Burkhalter, Ashley Forman and Graham Shelly. Director’s Awards include: Jared Lancaster, Andrew Stewart, Austin Terrell, Alan Winner, Jason Lovelady, Tarek Karkoutly, Scott Birney, Erica Prismantas, Lindsey Fleming, Cassidy Elms, Cassandra Gallegos, Michael Duhan, Ian Hill and Graham Shelly. #13 Fifteen students from Lubbock High School attended the Acting/ Playwriting workshop at Texas Tech University sponsored by the University Center and the cast of "The Diary of Anne Frank". Attending the conference were: Cassandra Gallegos, Jason Lovelady, Adam Coggins, Scott Birney, Travis Anderson, Ashley Forman, Andrew Stewart, Jordin Robins, Andrew Richey, Cassidy Elms, Taylor Attebury, Alan Winner,   Paige Fillipp, Austin Terrell, Kendall Simpson, and Rebecca Saathoff. #14 Lubbock High School chose the play, The American Clock by Arthur Miller for their contest play in the University Interscholastic League’s One-Act Play Contest. After attending two local festivals where the play received rave reviews, the cast and crew traveled to Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas to compete with Amarillo High School, Coronado High School, Monterey High School and Tascosa High School. Lubbock High School was fortunate to advance to the next round of competition. Along with winning one of two advancing play slots, Lubbock High School also received Best Actor (Andrew Stewart), All Star Cast (Jason Lovelady), All Star Cast (Ashley Forman), Honorable Mention All-Star Cast (Adam Coggins), and Best Technician (Jonathan Cotton). At the Area Contest in Snyder, Texas two actors received awards: All Star Cast (Jason Lovelady) and Honorable Mention All-Star Cast (Andrew Stewart). This is the second year that the Theater Arts Department at Lubbock High School and the One-Act Play Cast and Crew has won the District Championship. The Cast of The American Clock includes: Adam Coggins (Baseball Player/Theodore K. Quinn/Brewster/Kapush/Veteran/Ensemble), Scott Birney (Arthur Robertson/Ensemble), Travis Anderson (Clarence/ Charley/Dugan/Rudy/Ensemble), Jason Lovelady (Lee Baum), Ashley Forman (Rose Baum), Andrew Stewart (Moe Baum), Andrew Richey (Grandpa/Judge Bradley/Ensemble), Cassidy Elms (Fanny Margolies/ Ensemble), Taylor Attebury (Joe/Sidney Margolies/Banks/Ensemble), Alan Winner (Frank/Mr. Howard/Ralph/Ensemble), Paige Fillipp (Irene, Ensemble), Austin Terrell (Henry Taylor/Ensemble), Kendall Simpson (Mrs. Taylor/Mr. Ryan/Ensemble), Cassandra Gallegos (Harriet Taylor, Ensemble), Rebecca Saathoff (Doris Gross/Ensemble). The technical staff includes: J.T. Cotton (Lighting Director), Sarah Pollack (Stage Manager), Graham Shelly (Sound Design Director), Phillip Coggins (Live Sound Director), Ian Hill (Alternate), Erica Prismantas (Alternate), Jordan Robins (Alternate), Lindsey Fleming (Alternate), Sonny Carter (Secondary Crew), Johanna Logan (Secondary Crew), Pam Taylor (Secondary Crew), Robert Todd (Secondary Crew) and Zach Tollett (Secondary Crew). Congratulations to these fine individuals. #15 Jason Lovelady was selected as one of two scholarship recipients to receive the Norden Theater Scholarship to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. This coveted international scholarship is awarded to a college freshman that exemplifies the best that theater represents and offers in the arena of talent, character, and body of work, attitude, drive and ambition. This scholarship is renewable each year as Jason works towards a career in the field of theater. Jason is the second Norden Scholarship Winner from Lubbock High to receive this prestigious award. Congratulations, Jason we are extremely proud of you. #16 Mr. Sidwell was awarded the District 3-5A Director of the Year for 2001. This is the second year in a row that this Lubbock High Director has won this award. This is the fourth year overall that Mr. Sidwell has garnished the Director of the Year Award for District 3-5A for his work in the One-Act Play Competition. #17 The Theater Department has scheduled four senior directed One-Acts (Or productions cut to under an hour) for the end of the year: Death And The Maiden, The Woman In Black, Tracers and On The Verge. #18 The Theater Arts banquet is scheduled for the end of the year where awards for each production are given, officers are named for the coming year, and a great time will be had by all. More information will be available at a later date.