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Walter Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival

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The Walter Trumbauer Festival has provided quality training and performance opportunities for Alabama theatre students at the high school level since 1940. The educational impact of this event is substantial. The festival consists of 30 individual events, a one act play festival, a studio theatre one act play festival—all for 9th through 12th grades, as well as scholarship auditions and college screening for high school seniors and junior college students. Students qualify for the state competition by earning a rating of “superior” at one of seven district festivals. At all levels of competition, students receive critiques from qualified teachers, professionals and theatre practitioners, allowing them to improve their theatrical skills. The state festival kicks off with the scholarship audition session on Thursday evening. High school seniors and junior college students compete for four $1000 ACT Scholarships. Friday and Saturday events culminate in an Awards Ceremony where trophies, plaques, medals, and other awards are presented to recognize outstanding work in technical categories and performance areas. Two one act productions are chosen to represent Alabama at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in the spring.

Trumbauer 2024

District Festivals
November 2, 2024

State Festival at University of North Alabama
December 6-7, 2024

Trumbauer 2023

TRUMBAUER AWARDS

114 HIGH SCHOOLS COMPETED AT the 83nd ANNUAL WALTER TRUMBAUER HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL DECEMBER 1-2, 2023

The 83nd Walter Trumbauer Festival, the major event of the Alabama Conference of Theatre, was hosted at Troy University, Troy, AL on December 2-3. 2022.  104 High School Theatre Programs from throughout the state participated showcasing the talents of 2332 students.  There were a total of 1291 individual theatre vents, 35 group performances, 14 studio shows and 14 one-act shows.

The Walter Trumbauer Festival has provided quality training and performance opportunities for Alabama theatre students at the high school level since 1940. The educational impact of this event is substantial. The festival consists of 31 individual events, group acting and group musical, a one act play festival, a studio theatre play festival—all for 9th through 12th grades, as well as scholarship auditions and college screening for high school seniors and junior college students. Students qualify for the state competition by earning a rating of “superior” at one of seven district festivals. At all levels of competition, students receive critiques from qualified teachers, professionals and theatre practitioners, allowing them to improve their theatrical skills. Friday and Saturday events culminate in an Awards Ceremony where trophies, plaques, medals, and other awards are presented to recognize outstanding work in technical categories and performance areas. Two one act productions are chosen to represent Alabama at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in the spring.

One-Act Theatre Awards:

Jefferson County Academy of Theatre and Dance’s production of Antigone, Now directed by Carl Dean and Opelika High School’s production of Quilt: A Musical Celebration directed by Revel Gholston will be advancing to compete at the Southeast Theatre Conference, March 13-16, 2024 in Mobile, AL.

Additional awards in One-Acts include:

 BEST TECHNICAL DESIGN

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

An Experiment

W.P.Davidson High School

Gloria Poorman

BEST SCENIC DESIGN

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

Echoes of Rognarok

Hunstville High School

Abby Gandy

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

Where Words Once Were

Bob Jones High School

Mary Davis

BEST ENSEMBLE

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

Antigone, Now

Jefferson County Academy of Theatre & Dance

Carl Dean

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMERS

PLAY

SCHOOL

STUDENT

Leaving Iowa

Cullman High School

Bailee Henderson

Antigone, Now

Jefferson County Academy of Theatre & Dance

Jaela Pittman

BEST LEADING PERFORMERS

PLAY

SCHOOL

STUDENT

Antigone, Now

Jefferson County Academy of Theatre & Dance

Jaida Jackson-Davis

Alice by Heart

Wetumpka High School

Monica Velma

BEST IN SHOW 3 shows

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

An Experiment

W. P. Davidson High School

Gloria Poorman

Where Words Once Were

Bob Jones High School

Mary Davis

Alice by Heart

Wetumpka High School

Jeff Glass

 

Awards in Studio Theatre Shows include:

BEST ENSEMBLE

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

Julius Ceasar

Booker T Washington Magnet School

Jesmelia WIlliams

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMERS 2 students

PLAY

SCHOOL

STUDENT

ZERO

Prattville High School

Zeke Jones

Julius Caesar

Booker T. Washington Magnet School

Lacey Whitlow

BEST LEADING PERFORMERS 2 students

PLAY

SCHOOL

STUDENT

They Promised Her the Moon

Alabama School of Cyber Tech & Engineering

Aniyah Turner

Julius Caesar

Booker T. Washington Magnet School

Sa’Mitra Hill

BEST IN SHOW

PLAY

SCHOOL

DIRECTOR

Ichabod!

UMS-Wright Preparatory School

Margaret Delaney

They Promised Her the Moon

Alabama School of Cyber Tech & Engine

Priscilla Krause

Julius Caesar

Booker T. Washington Magnet School

Jesmelia Williams

For a complete list of awards, follow the link to:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17XpdHVE87mv_y4RymjmqeY7361r7MmT2u3-NvbG-33k/edit#gid=2042074235

A sampling of photos by Emily Allred, Emily Allred Photography, available for use, are located here:

https://adobe.ly/3NppQfv

Past Trumbauer Festivals

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