Loved our Winter Musical? Get Ready for Drama Fest

by Ariel Finkle

For many members of the East Greenwich High School Drama Club, January’s production of Newsies is only the beginning. After all, our school’s drama club (including myself) will be participating in the 2019 Rhode Island Drama Festival, held at Cranston High School West on March 8th and 9th.

Drama Fest is a competition between countless high school drama clubs in the state, including Cranston West and Bishop Hendricken. Each club must perform a one-act straight play (not a musical), and has a time limit of one hour – which includes the time taken to put up the sets, perform, and take everything down. The winning club gets to represent the entire state in Regionals – the New England Drama Festival held this coming April.

Our school will be performing “How To Succeed In High School Without Really Trying” by Jonathan Rand. Mr. Petrucci and Mr. Carniaux will be leading the team, while Petrucci will co-direct with senior Patrick Shenenfield. Even though this is our school’s first time participating in this state-wide competition, our team’s performers couldn’t be more excited.

“I think Dramafest is a great way for students to take the reigns and really feel the entire experience,” junior Josh Petteruti explains. “Plus, prolonging the drama season is never a bad idea.”

Freshman Ella Saint adds: “It’s the best kind of coordinated chaos and a lot of fun.”

Junior Catherine Zarrella is glad for both the competition and its coverage by our school newspaper: “This is spec(trum)tacular.”

Sophomore Keegan Leary eloquently says, “This is great.”

No matter what happens in the actual competition next month, it’s sure to be an experience none of its performers will ever forget.