Heritage Middle School performed I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a one-act play written by Celeste Respanti, based on the poetry created in a concentration camp by the Jewish children of Prague. Over 15,000 Jewish children passed through Terezin, and only about a hundred were still alive when Terezin was liberated at the end of the war. One of the survivors, Raja, having lived through it all, teaching the children when there was nothing to teach with, helping to give them hope when there was little enough reason for hope, creating a little world of laughter, of flowers and butterflies behind the barbed wire, tells the true story of the children. It is her and the children's play. There were no butterflies at Terezin, of course, but for the children, butterflies became a symbol of defiance, making it possible for them to live on and play happily while waiting to be transported.
Medalists for HMS:
Alyssa Joiner and Kayleigh Wright received All-Star cast awards for their leading performances.
R.J. Smith received an All-Star Crew award for his sound operation.
Tech Crew received the Outstanding Technical Crew award (Stage Manager: Kyndul Berry, Sound Technician: R.J. Smith, Lighting Technicians: Emma Osborne and Alyse Rushing, and Backstage Technician: Lexus Naron)
Terra Vista Middle School performed The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, based on the book of the same name by Kate Dicamillo Edward Tulane is an expensive toy rabbit made of china. He is loved by a little girl named Abilene, but Edward does not care. He is vain and self-centered. He has no interest in anyone other than himself. On an ocean voyage, Edward is accidentally thrown overboard and sinks to the bottom of the sea. So begins his journey—a journey over which he has no control, for he is a toy rabbit. He can neither move nor speak. As years pass by, Edward meets many different people in many different situations: an older grieving couple who find comfort in Edward’s presence, a hobo and his dog who introduce Edward to a whole community of homeless wanderers, a farmer in need of a scarecrow, a sad little boy, and his very ill sister, and finally a doll mender and an old doll who teach Edward an invaluable lesson. Through this miraculous journey, Edward learns what it is to love, what it is to lose that love, and how to find the courage to love again.
Medalists for TVMS:
TVMS - 1st Place School
Tanner Derryberry received Honorable Mention
Riley Vaughn received All-Star Cast
Liam Byars received Best Overall Performer
Frenship Middle School performed Zink by Cherie Bennett, the story of the relationship of Becky, a lonely pre-teen girl with leukemia, to her guardian-angel herd of zebras on the African savannah. The zebras range from street-smart Ice Z to grandfatherly Papa Zeke, effete Zilch to endearing Shlep, a furry green monkey who is sure he is a zebra. In Africa, Becky learns about Zink, a mythical polka-dotted zebra once an outcast but later a hero with the most courage and biggest heart. Becky's health worsens and she zaps back and forth between her real life and the zebra world until the shattering, breathtaking and uplifting climax.
Medalists for FMS:
Alex Phillips and Aubry Martinez received Honorable Mentions
Nate Varner received Outstanding Technician
Reese Kearns received All Star Cast
