Congratulations to Deer Lakes junior Elise Schaeffer and sophomore Gavin Windows who each earned awards at Prime Stage Theatre’s 4th Annual High School Drama Awards at New Hazlett Theater!
Elise was named Best Supporting Actress and Gavin was named Best Supporting Actor for their roles in Deer Lakes Drama’s fall production of “Winter Break.”
“I did not expect to win so I didn’t write a speech or prepare anything if I did,” Gavin said. “I was not expecting to win at all, but I’m super glad that I did.”
Once on stage, Gavin kept his speech short, thanking his parents and director Matt Derby.
“It feels good because it’s confirmation that I can do well and earn recognition in something like this,” Gavin said.
Elise was called to the stage just before Gavin and similarly did not expect to win in her category after seeing other schools perform scenes of their plays.
“We have so many good actresses and I knew that there were so many good actresses from other schools, so it was really surprising just to be nominated,” Elise said. “I also knew a lot of people from PMEA (performances) who were nominated. When they did their scenes they were super good. Having seen those actresses, I really expected someone else to win.”
Elise credited Matt Derby with helping her understand and connect with her character and also senior Brienne Sharo.
“It was wonderful working with Bri and being her scene partner,” Elise said. “We could joke around and be funny one minute and the next be really serious when we did our scene. It’s not easy to do that, but we built a connection in our scene to bring out serious emotion.”
Also nominated were Brienne Sharo, Willow Racan and Marianna Vergerio for their work in designing the playbills, posters and ticket logos.
Award presenters included actors Wali Jamal, Matt Henderson, Daina Griffith and Dan Krell, scenic designers Tony Ferrieri and Stephanie Mayer-Staley, prop designer Alex Keplar, costume designer Kimberly Brown, makeup artist Sharyn Cordice, sound designer Zach Moore, lighting designer C. Todd Brown, special effects creator Lawrence Shea, director-writer Gab Cody, radio producer Larry Berger, Prime Stage Theatre marketing coordinator Sophie McClung and artistic director Dr. Wayne Brinda.
“What makes these awards unique,” says Drama Awards coordinator and Prime Stage Theatre board member John Dolphin, “is that to be eligible, the students must be in a backstage leadership role or an onstage performance role. We encourage adult mentorship and assistance, but in the end, these productions are student-run.”
Since its founding in 1996, Prime Stage Theatre has presented over 100 plays that introduce student and family audiences to classic and contemporary works of world literature.
The theatre’s current 2023-24 Season of Courage and Discovery includes The Miracle Worker, Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank and Witness for the Prosecution and a special video showing of last year’s world premiere of Perseverance.