Arts Archives • St. Luke's School

St. Luke’s Center Stage Triumphs at District Trumbauer Festival

St. Luke's Staff Writers — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:23:37 +0000

Center Stage Shines Bright.

T
he St. Luke's Center Stage theater group made a remarkable impact at this year's District Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival, bringing home an impressive collection of awards that showcased their exceptional talent and dedication. Competing against numerous schools from across the area, the students demonstrated not only their skills in performance but also their creativity and teamwork, quickly becoming a rising star in the district.

A Showcase of Talent

St. Luke's Center Stage at 2024 District Trumbauer Theatre Festival

The Walter Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival, renowned for its competitive spirit and high standards, provides a platform for young performers to showcase their talents in various categories, including acting, technical design, and original productions. Scholarships and a chance to represent the state of Alabama in the Southeast Theatre Festival make this an exclusive and highly desirable destination for young thespians. To get there, performers must compete at their District Trumbauer Theatre Festival and earn a rating of Superior. This year's District Festival featured a wide range of performances, from classic plays to modern interpretations, and St. Luke's Center Stage theater was ready to impress.

Under the guidance of their passionate director, Hannah Grace Smith, the students prepared extensively, rehearsing for weeks leading up to the festival. Their hard work paid off as they delivered standout performances that captivated both the judges and the audience. With a focus on character development and emotional depth, the actors brought their roles to life, earning accolades for their engaging performances.

Award-Winning Performances

Lily and Chloe awarded Best Lead Actresses in a Studio Piece at 2024 District Trumbauer Theatre Festival.

The highlight of the festival for St. Luke' Center Stage theater came during the awards ceremony, where they were recognized in several key categories. The group's studio piece received awards for Best Ensemble, Best in Show, and All-Star Cast among others. Individual performers also shone brightly, with 11 Superior ratings and 7 Excellent ratings.

These accolades are a testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire cast and crew. “These students amaze me more every day,” said Smith. Center Stage theater will head to the Trumbauer State Theatre Festival in December.

District Trumbauer Award Recipients

Studio Awards

Best Ensemble
Best in Show
Jay Mansfield, Evelyn Cummings, Sophie Bitzer - All-Star Cast
Chloe Lambert, Lily Liller - Best Lead Actress in a Studio Piece

Superior Ratings

Brody Green - Varsity Pantomine
Sophie Bitzer - Varsity Acting Comedic
Ana Franco - Intermediate Acting Dramatic
Reese Johnson - Novice Acting Comedic
Rishi Gupta and CJ Robertson - Intermediate Duet Acting Comedic
Jonah Dominescy and Hayden Jones - Intermediate Duet Acting Comedic
Reese Browning - Intermediate Musical Comedic
Evelyn Cummings - Varsity Musical Comedic
Lilly Bufford and Reese Browning - Intermediate Duet Musical Dramatic
CJ Robertson and Evelyn Cummings -Varsity Duet Musical Dramatic
Jenna Simpson and Lilly Bufford - Novice Duet Musical Comedic

Excellent Ratings

Jay Mansfield - Varsity Acting Dramatic
Howie Johnson - Varsity Acting Comedic
Calista Conway - Varsity Acting Dramatic
Atli Johnston - Novice Acting Comedic
Chloe Lambert - Varsity Acting Comedic
Calista Conway and Chloe Lambert - Varsity Duet Musical Comedic
Brody Green - Varsity Properties Design

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St. Luke’s Theater Shines at 2023 District Trumbauer

aabel — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:45:35 +0000

D
ozens of student thespians throughout lower Alabama competed in the District 5 Trumbauer competition. St. Luke's Center Stage stood out, winning numerous awards. Students earning a superior rating advance to the state competition in December, 2023. The Walter Trumbauer High School Festival is an annual event in Alabama with more than 30 events, showcases, and competitions for students in grades 9-12. Congratulations to all Center Stage students who worked hard to prepare for the competition.

Superior

Ana Franco: Novice Acting Dramatic Pre-1900
Lily Liller: Intermediate Acting Comedic 2005-PresentJay Mansfield: Intermediate Acting Dramatic Pre-1900
Sophie Bitzer: Varsity Acting Comedic Pre-1900
Emma Trammell and Chloe Lambert: Intermediate Duet Reader's Theatre
Jonah Dominescy and Landon Villegas: Novice Acting Comedic 2005-Present
Hayden Jones: Novice Acting Comedic 2005-Present
Evelyn Cummings and Landon Villegas: Intermediate Duet Musical Dramatic

Excellent

Reese Browning and Haylei Shepherd: Novice Duet Musical Comedic
Rishi Gupta and CJ Robertson: Novice Duet Reader's Theatre
Evelyn Cummings, Haylei Shepherd, Reese Browning: Group Musical
Howie Johnson: Intermediate Acting Comedic Pre-1900
Chloe Lambert: Intermediate Musical Comedic 2017-Present
Calista Conway: Intermediate Musical Comedic 1980-2016

Fine & Performing Arts Booster Club

The St. Luke's Fine & Performing Arts Booster Club is committed to the ongoing support of our students in the creative arts. Connect with us on Facebook to learn more or get involved.

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Cheesecake Fundraiser

aabel — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:43:34 +0000

Center Stage Fundraiser.

S
t. Luke's Center Stage annual cheesecake fundraiser is back by popular demand!

Support our Theatre and Fine & Performing Arts Departments with your order of delectable cheesecakes that will arrive just in time for the Thanksgiving Holidays.

Cheesecakes make a great gift and a perfect easy dish to take to your Thanksgiving gathering. They can be frozen for up to one year or placed in the refrigerator for two weeks.

Support St. Luke's cheesecake fundraiser by placing your order now through October 27, 2023. Cheesecakes will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

ORDER NOW

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Center Stage Seniors

Jarnae Harris — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:59:38 +0000

Showtime for Center Stage Seniors.

W
orld Theater Day is a day to encourage children to connect to live performances and appreciate the essence, beauty, and importance of theater arts! St. Luke’s offers many theater classes to its Upper School students, including Center Stage for stage actors and Theater Production for theater technology and design enthusiasts. To celebrate World Theater Day, we chatted with Elly Musial and Alex Portella.

Acting can be complex because actors work on their emotions and personalities. Unlike some artists that work with other disciplines to create objects, actors work on themselves to create performances. Theater fans will tell you there is a bit of magic that comes together in theater as with St. Luke’s recent stage production of Mamma Mia. Elly and Alex agree that there are many valuable reasons why students should give Center Stage a try. Acting gives people a voice they would not have otherwise had and it’s a fantastic way to connect with peers and gain confidence with public speaking. While you leave the persona of your character in the dressing room, that exuberant confidence seen on stage finds its way into day-to-day life. Theater is personal and real. It brings people together.

Elly became involved in the arts at a young age, first being exposed to music in KinderMusik as a toddler. As she grew up, she continued to take voice lessons and became a member of the local choir. At the age of 9, she made her debut performance in a production of Annie. Alex became involved in theater in seventh grade in order to join her friends. Her first performance was Cosmic Law during her freshman year.

With years of experience, comes knowledge. Both girls have learned that it’s a MUST to drink water before the curtains rise. Elly says, “It never fails that my throat dries up as soon as I step on stage due to nerves. I’m never as hydrated as I am right before a show.” Alex also takes a few deep breaths to help calm her nerves. (We’ve never thought that either of them appeared nervous in the slightest!)

Now that their final production at St. Luke’s has come to an end, Elly is looking forward to attending Marymount Manhattan College in New York City to further her acting career and will be pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and minoring in Creative Writing. Alex will be attending Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She does not plan on doing professional theater but would love to continue doing community shows.

Elly and Alex both really appreciate how hard St. Luke’s Center Stage Director, Ms. Ottolino, has worked growing the theater program. And we, the theater fans, will forever appreciate and remember Elly’s and Alex’s great acting as it brought characters to life and allowed us to connect with the stories on deeper levels. It is through their skillful performances that we were moved, entertained, and inspired. Cut!

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St. Luke’s Presents: Mama Mia!

aabel — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 21:16:55 +0000

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Spotlight on the Arts

Kelly Choi — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:52:27 +0000

Mrs. Cummings Transforms the Arts .

Mrs. Cummings, University Campus art teacher, incorporates her passions for art in her teaching. Her mother influenced her to become an art teacher from a young age. Mrs. Cummings states “I have always enjoyed being visually creative. My mom had to talk my art instructors into letting me take their art classes when I was a kid.”

She has done even more than just art during her teaching career. She has influenced student’s lives through the teachings of young adult literature, theater, civics, and American history. Throughout her life, Mrs. Cummings has established that art is one of the sanctuaries for the youth in school. She believes it is a place to express their feelings in a safe environment. She says “I decided I wanted to be one of those sanctuaries for students by providing a place to be visually creative.” Mrs. Cummings tries to work with as many mediums as she can. Some classes will focus on a particular medium, such as pottery. However, her Art 1, Art 2, and Art 3 classes focus on various mediums and how they can work together to create specific effects.

Mrs. Cummings inspires creativity through student choice and exposure to various artists and their work. She provides an area of choice for students to customize their work to show their voice and understanding of the topic. Also, she includes past and current artists to use as examples when introducing a style of art. Each unit of the curriculum brings different standards and goals to reach the desired art effect.

Student artwork is displayed in the lobby of the theater. Mrs. Cummings says “I look forward to building up our advanced art program for students interested in pursuing art beyond high school. I would like for our art program to collaborate and interact more with the art community within Mobile and the surrounding areas.”

We are blessed to have Mrs. Cummings with her intense drive of bettering students both in and out of the classroom! Thank you, Mrs. Cummings, for all you do!

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Exploring St. Luke’s Theatre with Ms. Ottolino

Kelly Choi — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 18:30:18 +0000

St. Luke's Theatre.

Kelly Choi: What made you want to become a theatre teacher?
Andrea Ottolino: I love theatre and how it helps someone become more confident and well spoken. I wanted to help students see their potential and tap into their creative side.

KC: What makes a theatre teacher successful?
AO: Someone with a passion for the arts and lots of energy!

KC: How did you come to decide to choose "Puffs" for the Fall performance?
AO: We wanted to do a comedy this year that students could relate to. Puffs fit the bill perfectly!

KC: What were your biggest challenges directing "Puffs?
AO: This show had many, many props and lots of stage blocking at a fast pace.

KC: How did you carry out casting for Puffs?
AO: Students audition for the parts that interest them most. I decide then who fits the character best.

KC: Tell us a little bit about the tech team, decorations, etc. (behind the scenes folks)
AO: I have a class that is just about production. These are the students that make the set look good, do all the sound cues, and lighting for the show. By showtime, I just get to sit back and watch. The tech students do all of it! It takes a lot of work and practice!

KC: Tell us a little bit about the rehearsals.
AO: We start with blocking the scenes which is learning where and when to move on the stage. Learning the lines and using the props is the next step. Finally putting it all together with lighting and sound cues and costumes. These students put in time after school as well. Many come from other practices (like sports, outside activities) to ours. These are dedicated students!

KC: How do you stay motivated to continue to entertain us with EXCEPTIONAL performances?
AO: I love what I do! But the students are my biggest motivation! Working with them and seeing the excitement of a new challenge keeps me going.

KC: What are your future goals for this program?
AO: Bigger and Better! Honestly, the students have already exceeded where I thought we would be for such a young program. We do two main shows a year plus Trumbauer Theatre competition. I do have a dream of doing a school wide musical that includes students from elementary, middle and high school.

KC: What's next for you?
AO: I am just getting our school's Speech and Debate team started this year and hope to grow it next year. I am also looking at doing a Middle School musical.

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Art Inspiration

Connie Jackson — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 20:19:32 +0000

Glow in the Dark Art Inspiration.

W
e talked to St. Luke’s Mrs. Cummings, University Campus Art Teacher, about the inspiration behind the art displayed in the lobby of the theater during the “Puffs” performance.

One of the goals this year is to make the students aware of what current artists are doing and how they are inspired. With this goal in mind, Mrs. Cummings was led to her latest inspiration for the auditorium lobby.

Artist Mikaela Anne, who produces videos of her process on her channel Nerdforge, painted a futuristic city at night called "Cyberpunk City" using acrylic and UV paint. This artwork was the springboard for a glow-in-the-dark, black light art show in conjunction with the fall play "Puffs."

Each art class created pieces of art using fluorescent paints or inks to accent areas in their artwork. The middle school printmaking class used fluorescent inks to create prints for their exploding books. Art 1 students created paintings of cityscapes at night using one-point and two-point perspectives. The Art II/III class created fantastical landscapes using fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark paint. Not to be left out of our magical display, the pottery class created candle-lit lanterns with a nod to the book series that inspired the fall play.

Mrs. Cummings says, “It was a perfect way for students to see how their artwork can change according to the lighting, like Mikaela Anne's paintings. Because this was a six to nine-week process, it also gave students the experience of the planning, time, and effort involved when creating a piece of art.”

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St. Luke’s Presents Puffs

aabel — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 19:04:26 +0000

Showtime.

J
oin us in St. Luke's beautiful 800 seat theatre for an evening of fun as Centre Stage performs "Puffs." October 22 at 6:30 pm in the University Campus auditorium. Click here for more details and to add to your calendar. You don't want to miss this!

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Senior Spotlight: Elly Musial

Connie Jackson — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 20:33:01 +0000

More Than A Student.

S
t. Luke’s Senior, Elly Musial had a summer packed full of the arts. Elly made her debut at Joe Jefferson Playhouse in her role as Wendy Joe in Footloose the Musical, which ran three shows a week for 3-weekends.

During this commitment, Elly began teaching drama programs on her own. She spent half her weeks working as a drama camp counselor at Sunnyside Theater Productions. The other half of her time was spent solo directing at Alba Middle School.

Lights! Camera! Action!

In the month of July, Elly directed and choreographed a group of kids in Sunnyside’s Glee Camp before going back on stage as Katherine in a one-week intensive production of Newsbies Junior.

As soon as the shows were complete, Elly packed her bags for a two-week trip to the Big Apple. While in NY, she learned about the college audition process and received feedback from numerous Broadway stars and other members in the industry (including Beetle Juice’s Alex Brightman and Tony Award Winner Nikki M. James). She then spent a week at Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City, an elite, audition-based program that provides professional training for musical theater performers.

Elly developed her “Triple Threat” performance skills while learning more about the business of acting and making connections with industry professionals. She ended her week performing in an industry showcase for NYC agents, managers, casting directors and college representatives.

Keep shining bright, Elly! The sky's the limit!

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