(l to r, first row) Ryan Lewis, Valerie Burgess, Jessica Campbell, Anika Roth, Nick Lauterbach, Josh Carter and Maddy Small; (second row) Sarah Daughdrill, Stephanie Sexton, Axelle Eichner, Zoe Jones, Sarah Perdue, Amanda Lopez and Amanda Lyons; (third row) Terrill Bowles, Emily Lindblad, Haleigh King, Skyler Roth, Katie Wilson and Tesla Rodriguez; and (back row) Alicia Phillips. Performing “Horton Hears A Who,” Fluvanna High School's Theater Troupe received first place at the Jefferson District Theater Festival. On Saturday, October 31, when most people were dressing up in costumes in preparation for trick-or-treating, acting students from Fluvanna traveled to Monticello High School to perform for the Annual Fall One-Act Festival.
Cast members included Seniors, Terrill Bowles, Jessica Campbell, Alicia Phillips, Tesla Rodriguez, Anika Roth, Stephanie Sexton and Maddy Small; Juniors, Josh Carter, Axelle Eichner, Ryan Lewis, Amanda Lyons and Sarah Perdue; Sophomores, Valerie Burgess, Sarah Daughdrill, Zoe Jones, Haleigh King, Emily Lindblad, Amanda Lopez, Skyler Roth and Katie Wilson; and Freshmen, Nick Lauterbach.
Based on the book by Dr. Seuss, directed by drama teacher, Craig Edgerton, costume and art design by art teacher, Michelle Coleman, make-up by Maddy Small, and the assistance of the entire cast, they developed a dramatic interpretive production of Horton that incorporates a mix of puppetry, dance, rap and drama, FHStheatre students bring to life Horton, played by Alicia Phillips and all of his Nool friends.
Narrated by Katie Wilson as the Cat in the Hat, learn how Horton discovers the speck where the Who's live, led by their fearless Mayor, played by Joshua Carter, and prepares to protect them from the evil kangaroo, played by Tesla Rodriguez.
Other schools represented at the festival included, Charlottesville, Monticello, William Monroe, Orange, Western Albemarle, Louisa and Goochland. Out of eight schools, Fluvanna was awarded first, and Monticello received second. Both Fluvanna and Monticello advance to the Region II Festival at Skyline High School in Front Royal, Virginia on Saturday, November 21. Admission is free.
Horton is a story that transcends all age groups. You will fear for the Who's, jeer at the Kangaroo and cheer for JoJo as he finds his voice. The performance is imaginative and engaging, from the purple kangaroos and the blue monkeys, to the multicolored Who's dressed in polka-dots and Horton puppetry. It appeals to audience members both big and small, because after all, “a person is a person, no matter how small.”
A special encore performance of Horton Hears A Who will be performed in Central Elementary's newly renovated Auditorium, Thursday, November 19, at 7:10 p.m. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to performance. Admission is free, but audience members are encouraged to bring one item of non-perishable food item per family, to be donated to the local food bank.
For additional information or reservations, please call 434-589-3666.