By CUSD Insider staff
For these students, all their world’s a stage — and an award-winning one at that.
Several students from two Capistrano Unified School District campuses were recognized for their artistic efforts by the California Educational Theatre Association, a professional group promoting and envisioning high standards of theater instruction throughout the state.
The awards to students at San Juan Hills and Capistrano Valley high schools were to be given out during the association’s High School Theater Festival over January’s Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. However, COVID-19 concerns cancelled the event, which would’ve had CUSD students performing in front of their Southern California peers.
Thankfully, the awards were still given out.
“I’m super proud of all of them,” said Cambria Graff, theater arts director at San Juan Hills High School. “It’s awesome that they have been recognized for all their hard work. It takes countless hours for the students to make these productions happen.”
Graff added that all the students “do it out of passion. As a teacher I can help some of the way, but unless they walk the walk and they invest the time, the show wouldn’t be what it is.”
The following students and student work were recognized:
First Place, Trailer: Capistrano Valley High’s Evan Nowack, Sebastian Elizarraras, Charles Luu, Tessa Murray, London Meredith, Dominic Phan
This award recognized Hollywood-style trailers for plays that Capistrano Valley High School produced.
First Place, District 4: San Juan Hills’ production of “Metamorphoses”
Graff said the award for this production was particularly satisfying because the school has been so close to winning in recent years, but would miss by a thin margin. Winning the award this year made all the hard work pay off, she said.
“Metamorphoses” achieved a perfect score by a panel of three adjudicators who watched the show live last December. The high marks were given for acting, directing, and technical production.
Artistic Merit Award: San Juan Hills’ production of “Pride and Prejudice”
Graff said this award recognized that out of all the District 4 shows, the judges felt “Pride and Prejudice” demonstrated skills considered above a typical high school range.
“They usually describe it as pushing the boundaries of high school theater,” Graff said. “My students were performing at a higher level. It’s like saying, ‘Props to you for tackling something so difficult.'”
“Pride and Prejudice” took place in October.
Adjudicator Awards: San Juan Hills seniors CJ Verrengia and Jadyn Fox for their set design on “Metamorphoses”
These two exemplary students were recognized as top notch. The award recognized the duo as a team for their efforts.
Acting scholarships: San Juan Hills seniors Connor Keithley and Alaina Arbiso
To receive the scholarships, Keithley and Arbiso videotaped themselves delivering monologues. Only three scholarships were given throughout all of Southern California, and San Juan Hills students received two of them. Graff said Keithley and Arbiso haven’t chosen a university to attend in the fall, “but they’ve been called back at really prestigious institutions.”
