AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE WCJC Drama students earn 22 awards at play festival

Wharton County Junior College Drama students earned 22 awards at the Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association's Play Festival, which was held at Texas A&M in Commerce. Front row, from left, are Cole Fitzgerald (Bay City) and "Sandy." Second row, left to right, are Malyssa Cadriel (El Campo), Maren Ellis (East Bernard), Sofia Uribe (Rosenberg), Kaylin Meek (Boling), Alexis Flores (El Campo) and Jordon Gutierrez (Houston). Back row, left to right, are Sarah Pinyon (Sugar Land), Catching Valentinis-Dee (Katy), Madeline Wright (Edna), Jazmin Cordova (El Campo), Tyler Korff (Markham), Victoria Posa (Houston), Makayla Biskup (El Campo), Jackson Rogers (Boston, Mass.), Nicholas Simons (Bay City) and Trace Morris (Needville).

WHARTON, TEXAS – Wharton County Junior College Drama Department students stole the show at the annual Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association’s (TCCSTA) Play Festival.

“I think the students did a really good job and I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments,” said WCJC Drama Instructor and director Greg McLarty. 

Held from Feb. 28 to March 3 at Texas A&M Commerce, the festival featured eight community colleges from across the state. WCJC’s performance of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” garnered an impressive amount of praise from the judging panel, with 22 awards bestowed on the WCJC students, including an “Excellent” overall rating for the production. 

“It was the perfect time to experience the other schools’ shows, and to learn about their journeys to get here along with our own,” said Trace Morris, an actor in the company.

“Last weekend opened up my perspective on what it really means to work hard and get things done,” said Victoria Posa, the show’s costume designer.

WCJC students earning TCCSTA play festival awards included:

• Director’s Choice Technical Awards – Excellent: Sofia Uribe of Rosenberg, assistant stage manager; Victoria Posa of Houston, makeup design.
• Director’s Choice Technical Awards – Superior: Trace Morris of Needville, special properties design; Victoria Posa of Houston, costume design; Catching Valentinis-Dee of Katy, property master; Jazmin Cordova of El Campo and Jordan Gutierrez of Houston, video design; Malyssa Cadriel of El Campo, sound design; and Tyler Korff of Markham, stage management.
• Respondent’s Choice Technical Awards – Excellent: Tyler Korff of Markham, stage management; Jazmin Cordova of El Campo and Jordan Gutierrez of Houston, video design.
• Respondent’s Choice Technical Awards – Superior: Tyler Korff of Markham, lighting design; Victoria Posa of Houston, costume design.
• Professor’s Choice Award, Acting – Cole Fitzgerald of Bay City.
• Respondent’s Choice, Acting – Excellent: Trace Morris of Needville and Kaylan Meek of Boling.
• Respondent’s Choice, Acting – Superior: Cole Fitzgerald of Bay City and Maren Ellis of East Bernard.
• Greg Schneider Technical Award – Tyler Korff of Markham and Sofia Uribe of Rosenberg, stage management.
• John Corley Tech Award – Jazmin Cordova of El Campo, video design.
• Overall Festival Play Rating – Excellent

“Festival was such a great time,” said Tyler Korff, the stage manager and a member of the acting company. “Being able to spend the whole week with people I love and watching the one thing I love to do. It is something that I am very proud of.”

An additional cast member not mentioned in the awards was “Sandy,” a mixed-breed puppy that played a crucial part in the play. McLarty rescued the dog, which had been abandoned, with the assistance of the Friends of Wharton Animal Control. The puppy has since been adopted by a couple in Bay City.

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