LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Sitting in a crowded theatre after three days of fighting to ensure a set piece looks perfect, a joke lands or a character aids a scene. Sitting in a dark theatre waiting to hear a familiar name, or waiting for the disappointment of hearing nothing but competitors’ names. Sitting in an exhausted cacophony of shouts and cries, preparing to be ready to move on. Then, it is heard: not one, not two, but 13 superiors! This was the experience of Los Alamitos High School’s drama students on March 23 at the three-day California State Thespian Festival. 

The students who participated in this festival were: Leo Athy, Mariah Baquedano, MJ Canning, Kasey Chu, Ella Cox, Nat Garcia, Jenna Gray, Alice Farnstrom, Maxx Fish, Ava Friedman, Ariyah Johnson, Timm Junge, Nikki Martin, Lily Martinez, Jax Medel, Laila Rain Montana, Claire Marano, Sean Morin, Evan Pagan, Mason Potter, Angelina Rieglehuth, Kaelynn Rost, Sarah Roudabush, Cat Russell, Addie Schumacher, Aniyah Smith, Jenny Woo and Myles Zintl. 

“The opening number was a musical number from Kinky Boots. That was a great opportunity for tech-inclined students like myself because I got to work with some great technicians who have worked at Disneyland,” Angelina Riegelhuth said. 

At this three-day event, 60 schools engaged in featured workshops, technical events and performances. This competition had students scatter across the campus of Pomona College to perform their event. The only time everyone congregated was when awards were announced in the theatre. 

“When your school name gets announced for something, your area goes crazy, so it’s very high energy and everybody is excited,” Rieglehuth said. 

“Claire Marano received a tech commendation, and Sarah Roundabush received a California State Honor Thespian. Sarah placed first in the state for theatre marketing, and she was chosen as assistant director for the playwork project,” Mrs. Castiglione, LAHS drama teacher, said. 

In these competitions, presenters must follow a rubric. The rubric rates people from fair to good to excellent to superior, the highest of the ranks. Students with superiors get to repeat their event at nationals to receive a national superior. Students have also won other awards, like MJ Canning, who did costume work for LAHS’ “The Outsiders” play. 

“MJ Canning (won) first place in both costume construction and costume design. Casey Chu placed second in costume design construction, and Kaelynn Rost placed third in scenic design. That’s on top of 13 superiors,” Mrs. Castiglione said. 

Mrs. Castiglione treats her students like professionals, so the focus of drama has shifted to the next competition; performing arts work is constantly moving. Make sure to congratulate these hardworking students at every opportunity possible! After all, the next people watching their performances will be us!