Upper School Theatre Students are celebrating five awards from the regional competition of the North Carolina High School Play Festival last weekend, including a Distinguished Play that will advance to the state-level competition.

Students traveled with faculty members Brooke Fulton and Jordan Ellis to Shelby to showcase their two fall one-act plays, Yellow Boat and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The school will offer an additional performance of Yellow Boat on Saturday, November 12 at 7 p.m. in McMahon Theatre. Tickets are available here.

"I am beyond proud of the cast and crew of The Yellow Boat." said Fulton. "While I knew our production was something special, it is validating to know the audiences and NCTC adjudicators agreed. This production has far exceeded my expectations, considering this is my first year in this role. Having worked with some of the actors years ago in Lower School has made this journey all the more memorable and unique. I feel honored and grateful to work with such talented faculty colleagues and incredible students."  

The NCTC High School Play Festival program showcases the talent of more than 3,500 students from 100+ schools, in over 130 productions. The Festival gives schools from all across the state the opportunity to share their talents and celebrate their collective achievements. The program was named one of the “Top High School Theatre Festivals” by Stage Directions Magazine.

Each fall, schools travel to regional Festivals for two days of performance and celebration. Providence Day's regional competition was hosted by Shelby High School. Select plays from each of the regional Festivals advance to the NCTC State High School Play Festival, which is affectionately known as the “State Football Championships of Theatre.” The top two shows at the State Festival go on to a national Festival. 

Providence Day Theatre will be competing at the state competition November 17 and 18 at Greensboro College.

Awards won regionally from among 16 one-act plays from 14 schools include:

Excellence in a musical performance: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. 

Excellence in design and production: The Yellow Boat: Run Crew 

Excellence in acting: Astrid James: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. 

Outstanding Acting (one of two best actors from the festival): Mhakai White, The Yellow Boat 

Distinguished Play (one of two selected to advance to the State Festival): The Yellow Boat