Lemont High School Competitive Drama Program Wins Sectional, Heads to State Finals

For the third straight year, competitive drama program will compete for the IHSA state title.

Lemont won the Group Interpretation competition at the IHSA Lake Park Sectional on March 17 to advance to the Drama and Group Interpretation finals at the University of Illinois-Springfield on Friday and Saturday.

This is the second time in as many years that Lemont has captured a sectional title in Group Interpretation.

Each IHSA sectional includes two competitions—drama and group interpretation.

In Group Interpretation, groups of three or more students interpretively present literature by creating an ensemble performance showcasing their interpretive skills without the aid of costumes, make-up, set or props. Selections can be from literary forms ranging from prose to speeches to original material.

Lemont's entry this year — "The Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin — is directed by David Linley and Roy Nees.

Half of Lemont's 14 cast members earned IHSA all-sectional honors for their performances: seniors Kevin Driscoll and Rhiannon Lindgren, junior Aubree Tally and sophomores Anne Marie Alway, Ryan Luz, Robert Rigler and Sara Van Hecke.

Driscoll and Tally also received all-sectional honors for Group Interpretation in 2011.

This year's Group Interpretation cast also features seniors Steven Henson and Alex Vjestica, junior Zack Taylor, sophomores Michelle Awad and Liam Purtle, and freshmen Meghan Kaminsk and Becca Zagorski. Senior Kathy Machaj and sophomore Matt Hackiewicz serve as student directors, while senior Rachel Hunter, sophomore Kevin Lindgren and freshman Nick Lambrakis contributing on the crew.

Eight schools competed in the Group Interpretation category at the Lake Park Section. Lemont, which topped Metea Valley and Lake Park to win the competition, also won the South Suburban Conference title earlier this month.