Thespians win big at PA State Conference

From+left%3A+Grace+Pekala%2C+Dan+Wescoe%2C+Liam+McKee%2C+and+Alo+Barrantes.+%0ANPHS%E2%80%99s+Thespian+Troupe+won+big+recently+when+they+attended+the+Pennsylvania+State+Thespian+Conference.+Grace+Pekala%2C+Liam+McKee%2C+Alonso+Barrantes%2C+Tom+Schmids%2C+Daniel+Wescoe%2C+and+Noah+Golden+all+returned+home+with+wins+for+an+event+they+each+participated+in.

Liam McKee

From left: Grace Pekala, Dan Wescoe, Liam McKee, and Alo Barrantes. NPHS’s Thespian Troupe won big recently when they attended the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference. Grace Pekala, Liam McKee, Alonso Barrantes, Tom Schmids, Daniel Wescoe, and Noah Golden all returned home with wins for an event they each participated in.

YORK- NPHS’s Thespian Troupe won big recently when they attended the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference. Although the initial reason for attending states was to perform North Penn’s performance of She Stoops to Conquer, select thespians attend the conference every year to learn tips through workshops, see other shows, and learn more about their love for theatre.

Grace Pekala, Liam McKee, Alonso Barrantes, Tom Schmids, Daniel Wescoe, and Noah Golden all returned home with wins for an event they each participated in, proving that there is more to this conference than just theatre acting.

Grace Pekala

Pekala, a junior at NPHS, entered a costume she designed as an independent event at states. After being asked to help design costumes for She Stoops to Conquer with fellow junior Alex Springer, they were both asked if they would like to participate in a costume designing independent event (I.E.). Both girls designed their dresses, and Pekala won first place.

Grace Pekala, junior at NPHS, won in a costume designing independent event. Photo by Grace Pekala

It wasn’t an easy task to just pick a dress and recreate it, because Pekala had to undergo tons of research to find the perfect dress.  Unable to find a dress to replicate for the competition, Pekala took a deeper look at an old Vogue dress from the 1980’s and decided that it was the dress. She knew that it would be a complicated dress, as the patterns and details were intricate, but it was that very aspect of the dress that scored Pekala a ticket to nationals in June.

“It was my first time winning a costume award, and I’ve been told that I am the first person at North Penn to win a costume award,” stated Pekala, smiling.

After fashioning her dress for 2-3 weeks while sewing costumes for She Stoops to Conquer, blistered fingers and numb thumbs showed Pekala’s hard work and dedication far more than her award.

“Winning the award was actually the scariest part. I don’t like being on stage, so I guess that’s why I’m into making costumes,” laughed Pekala.

 

Alonso Barrantes, Liam McKee, Tom Schmids, and Daniel Wescoe

These four film addicts’ eyes lit up with creativity the moment Andrea Roney, Theatre Director at NPHS, introduced the idea of a short film I.E. As active participants with NPTV, and soon to be film majors in college, Barrantes, McKee, Schmids, and Wescoe were bursting with creative juices as they planned out their first film, Parallel.

Although the main requirement for the short film was that it could not exceed five minutes, these seniors compiled the best scenes they shot and edited it into a five minute thriller/horror movie.

“We originally wanted it to resemble an older movie, black and white and silent, but the more we thought about it, we wanted to do something a little more linear,” stated Barrantes.

Schmids came up with the main plot; an idea of having a mirror with an attached paranormal soul resembling the main character (himself), who becomes the constant conflict throughout the film. This paranormal soul haunts Adam, portrayed by Schmids, who gives into his curiosity of the mirror and soon has to literally be face to face with his paranormal counterpart.

With a horror movie, it’s difficult to hold back on profanity and make it school appropriate, but Barrantes, McKee, Schmids, and Wescoe formulated a perfect element of fear and curiosity where there is no need for curse words strewn about. The mere element of surprise is enough to have viewers shaking.

“Before we even received the award, we got to talk to the judges, and they told us that they loved it, and they rated us very high based on the maturity level and skill level for our age,” explained Wescoe.

Before we even received the award, we got to talk to the judges, and they told us that they loved it, and they rated us very high based on the maturity level and skill level for our age

— Daniel Wescoe

Each of the ten judges had to score their film out of 20 points separately, but they all returned with giving North Penn’s filmmakers the same score of 18/20, which was the highest score of the competition, giving their five minute film a superior rating. Confident with their work, the boys were ecstatic for their win.

“It was so surreal. I don’t even know how to describe it,” said McKee, gushing with pride.

Barrantes knew exactly how to describe it: like winning an Oscar.

Noah Golden

All victories come in different sizes, and Golden’s victory was over a tech challenge at states. States doesn’t just host workshops and activities for acting, because tech gods like Golden need to participate in something for their field of interest. Each year, the crew at the state conference sets up tech challenges where each participant must complete a task as fast as they can.

“I went sophomore year and competed in the tech challenges and didn’t win anything, but this year I won an individual event, where I had to hang a light and get it to focus,” stated Golden.

Golden’s winning time was one minute and fourteen seconds, beating all of his other competitors. Proving to be knowledgeable of behind the scenes works has always been a part of the North Penn senior, as he has volunteered at his church since 5th grade to give a helping hand with technological aspects. Ever since they gave him different jobs there, he has been actively involved with school productions and programs, making sure that the lighting and sound are always perfect.

Based on his experiences, Golden decided to launch his own company, Out Loud Productions where he offers services in lighting, sound, DJ’ing, photography, videography, and as Golden put it, “all the nerdy, techy stuff.”