EHS Drama Devils earn state championship

Sheila McGuire, Herald Reporter
Posted 12/10/19

Evanston High School drama team claims state title

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EHS Drama Devils earn state championship

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EVANSTON — The Evanston High School Drama Devils are the 2019 4A State Drama Champions. The 64 students led by drama coach Erin Russell participated in 64 different events at the Wyoming state drama competition held in Laramie Dec. 5-7. 

Not only did the EHS team claim the state title, nine students received All-State Award honors and 14 received Honorable Mention honors.

Senior Amelia Walker was named an All-State recipient in three separate events, including varsity monologue, proscenium acting and third-year fantasy makeup. Two technical theater students received All-State honors in dual events, with Alana Johnson recognized for her work in fourth-year costume design and costume construction and Skyler LeMarr honored for fourth-year realistic makeup and fourth-year fantasy makeup. 

Aidan McGuire also received two All-State Awards, the first in musical duet with partner Savanna Hatch and the second in devised acting with fellow honorees Téa Cox and Heidi Barton. Other All-State recipients included Ellie McFadden for novice monologue and Sara Dodsworth for first-year costume design. 

Honorable Mention honors went to Robertson Walker for varsity monologue, Leah Sowers and Cora Hatch for novice duet, Linzy Sharp for musical solo, Sarah Hutchinson for first-year costume design, Jhitan Smith for fourth-year realistic makeup and Kiya Cox for second-year fantasy makeup. 

Logan Dover was named Honorable Mention for both varsity monologue and costume construction and Marquel Hawkins for both group musical and devised acting. Aidan McGuire and Téa Cox were also named Honorable Mention recipients along with Hawkins for group musical, while Hawkins shared the devised acting honor with Alexis Andrews, Shanty Olivas and Kailand McCann. 

Russell said winning state was stunning. “When we were at the awards ceremony, we heard the winners for third place, which we got last year, and then second place, and when it wasn’t us, I figured, ‘We surely didn’t get first. Oh, well, there’s always next year.’ Then I heard our announcer say, ‘Evanston!’ and I was totally stunned,” she said. “We stood up and screamed for joy and started to cry.” 

Russell said the EHS drama team won state in 1994 and in 2003, but it has definitely been a long time since the school could boast the state championship. “I am so grateful for the support we have from the community, from the staff at EHS and from our activities department,” said Russell. “I’m so proud of these kids and the countless hours they put into their work. It is the joy of my life to work with such amazing students and I count myself so lucky to be their coach.” 

The Drama Devils will be showing the public what they performed at the state competition at the State Drama Showcase on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Since there are so many kids, the showcase will be split in two parts, with the first performance taking place at 5 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. in the EHS auditorium.