By RICHARD LUKEN
richard@iolaregister.com
Iola High School’s 47th annual Little Oscars celebration featured an extra bit of fanfare Saturday evening, as the school’s drama class celebrated a state championship.
Despite not winning a single award throughout the evening, juniors Cody Cokely and Colton Schubert were prominent fixtures throughout the three-hour ceremony.
Cokely and Schubert were state champs in Kansas Class 4A improvised duet acting, having won the title May 5 at the State Speech and Drama Championships in Topeka.
The comedy duo also drew the biggest laughs of the evening with their uproarious rendition of the song “Jenny” from the HBO comedy series “Flight of the Conchords.”
They reminded the audience frequently throughout the evening that they were best friends, and their interaction proved it.
Other memorable moments from a night filled with laughter and tears included when senior Breezy Burke received the Susan S. Miller Award as the school’s most inspirational forensics team member.
Burke also competed at the state forensics tourney, taking seventh place in oral interpretation of prose.
Instructor and forensics team coach Regina Chriestenson also recognized the one-act drama squad members Danielle Venter, Maggie Terhune, Abbey St. Clair, Garrett Prall, Madison Luken, Katie Terhune and Mickey Ingle for their skit “Five Ex-Wives in the ICU,” which they performed at the State Speech and Drama Festival in Overland Park on May 4.
FOR THE main event of the evening, Venter took home two trophies, for best actress and rookie of the year for her work in the spring play “Check, Please.”
Bryan Miller took home two trophies as well. He was named “Outstanding Player” and received the Stanislavski Award for “The Outsiders.” Elijah Grover received the Boleslavski Award for his work with “The Outsiders.”
Audrea Stahl and Hayden Wolf won supporting actress and actor Little Oscars, respectively. Both played in both the spring and fall productions.
Dalton Altis also was a two-time winner, one a technical award for his sound work for the fall production “The Outsiders,” the other a Stagecraft Award for his behind-the-scenes contributions throughout his high school career.
Maggie Terhune took home the Iola Community Theatre Award for her work with the ICT production “My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale” in September. Director Richard Spencer said another youth production is in the works for this fall with “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
Other winners:
Drew Smith’s work in “The Outsiders” garnered him the Best Actor Little Oscar. Violet McCullough took home the Don Bain Showman of the Year prize. Jordan Garcia was named top male rookie for his work in “Check, Please,” while Mickey Ingle was named top underclass female for her work with “Check, Please” and “The Outsiders.” Michael Wilson garnered top underclass male for his work with “The Outsiders.” Trilby Bannister nabbed the spring technical award for her behind-the-scenes duties with “Check, Please.”
THE EVENING was capped with the traditional singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” with an added twist this year. Students brought out a birthday cake for Chriestenson, whose birthday was Saturday.
