A person might be able to come up with 20 reasons not to be in a play, but members of the Warsaw Community High School Thespian Troupe can come up with at least nine good reasons to do one.
Over the weekend, the students performed the play “20 Reasons Not to Be in a Play” at state competition at Huntington University. They came back with nine awards, including second place overall.
In addition to second place at state, the troupe took honorable mention as best ensemble.
Tara Rusinack received best supporting actress.
Excellence ribbons were given to Matt Grothouse in Novice Solo Musical, Kathy Frazetta in Novice Solo Musical and Michael Kuhn in Experienced Solo Musical.
Superior Ribbons were given to Chance Parker and Colin Rea in Experienced Duet Acting, and Derek Grose and Patrick Norman in Experienced Duet Musical.
In the category of Experienced Duet Musical, Hannah Bishop and Lucas Thomas won first in the state and Superior Ribbon for their performance of “Suddenly Seymour.”
Students in the second-place overall play “20 Reasons” included Bishop, Grose, Kuhn, Rusinack, Thomas, Olivia Wallin, Kristen Murdock, Conner Julian, Chance Parker, Kiara Stewart, Allison Zigon, Jennifer Burley, Landen DeGraff, Andrew Jeffreys and Alex Denault.
To get to state competition Jan. 20-22, the WCHS troupe took first place at regional competition in October. There were 11 schools competing at state competition, with winners coming from four regions of the state. Each region sent their top two to three teams.
Dana McAfee, WCHS drama teacher, said Warsaw performed its show Saturday at 9:45 p.m. Being a theater audience, she said the audience got the humor and nature of “20 Reasons Not To Be In A Play”. It was the last show of the whole weekend.
“They were so great,” McAfee said of the Warsaw students. “They just did the best they’ve ever done.”
