By CONNIE NOLEN / Community Columnist

Pelham High School’s Thespians continued their amazing competitive theatre season culminating with impressive performances and awards at the Alabama State Thespian Competition at Samford University on Jan. 19 and 20.

“Our PHS students performed an awesome main stage show and Meredith got to perform in the showcase which is reserved for only the best performances in the festival!” PHS Theatre Teacher Jamie Stephenson reported.

“The greatest thing about the State Thespian Competition was performing on a real stage again,” senior Morgan Willingham said.

“And being on stage meant that we got to take a bow,” added senior Meredith Revel. “With our lobby presentations we have to end, break and rush to take down the sets.”

With the school auditorium closed for remodeling, these seniors have missed being on the PHS stage for performances for their last year of high school.

“The show was amazing! Honestly, what impressed me most was how Morgan, Claudia and Meredith naturally played their roles! There is a wealth of talent in this group! I was so proud of Mrs. Stephenson and our Pelham kids!” said PHS English Teacher Rebecca Burnett who attended Saturday night’s performance.

Student awards included: Superiors for Donnell James in Costume Design, Stephanie Hernandez in sound design, Riley Taylor in solo musical theatre, Morgan Willingham, Claudia Flaherty and Meredith Revel all in monologue. Excellents were awarded to Isabella Finley in solo musical theatre, Caleb Bernstein, Donnell James and Christian Goecke in acting, Riley Taylor and Lindsey Evans in duet musical theatre, Lindsey Evans, Tania Alvarez, Maria Quintana and Hannah Walsh all in monologue.

Julie Loseman, Elaina Murray, Griffin Evanko all received good ratings for their monologues.

Tania Alvarez received a $1,000 Alabama Educational Theatre Association scholarship.

Jamie Stephenson, teacher of these award-winning students, has recently been chosen by the Alabama State Board of Education to assist in writing the new Arts Course of Study.

The entire community looks forward to the reopening of the PHS auditorium the first week in April for Miss PHS and Write Night followed by a musical of Cinderella. PHS is hungry for its auditorium.