THE CAST AND CREW of Masquer’s “Much Ado About Nothing” has advanced to the State Finals of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Drama Festival March 23 in Boston. (Courtesy Photo)
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — They’ve done it again! The North Reading High School Masquers won the semifinal round of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Drama Festival on March 9 for their one-act production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
They have now qualified to advance to the State Finals as one of 14 finalists. The METG Drama Festival will be held in Boston on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 21-23.
The Masquers had previously won their preliminary round competition on March 2 to advance to the semifinals. Approximately 112 high school theater programs compete at various venues statewide at the preliminary and semifinal levels. Only 14 schools emerge to compete at the State Finals, where the top three productions will be chosen. Of those three state champions, two schools will be chosen to represent Massachusetts at the New England Drama Festival.
The Masquers competed in the semifinals while also hosting five other competing schools, Acton-Boxboro, Masconomet, Bishop Fenwick, St. John’s Prep and Beverly. Only two schools would advance to the State Finals, which went to St. John’s Prep for its production of “Nothing/Something.”
Members of the Masquers took home awards in six of the eight categories at the semifinals as well. Winning Best Featured Actor awards were James Dillon, Alivia Rowe and Marshall Murray. Piper Kirwin won Best Student Director. Daniela Voisinet won Best Lighting Design. The Best Set Design and Execution award was won by Danika Reid, Matt Capalbo, Marshall Murray, Sofia Naulivou, Daniela Voisinet, Stevie Schomp, James Dillon and Adriana Gonzales.
Additionally, Kirwin and Dillon were awarded the David Dooley Award as the Unsung Heroes of the day.
Joining NRHS and St. John’s as State Finalists are: Andover H.S. (“Into the Sun, With Certainty”); Leominster H.S. (“The Unraveling”), Milton H.S. (“Nora’s Lost”), Framingham H.S. (“The Heart of Robin Hood”), Everett H.S. (“Augusta and Noble”), Brockton H.S. (“Charley’s Aunt”), Peabody Veterans Memorial H.S. (“The Whale”), Joseph Case High School (“Icarus”), Westford Academy (“Disgraced”), Sharon H.S. (“Middletown”), Boston Latin School (“Please Leave [a message]”), and Wayland H.S. (“The Everyday Adventures of Harriet Handleman [Super Genius]”).
Incidentally, Henry Kane, the son of Masquers’ director Allison Kane, is a member of Andover High School’s cast of “Into the Sun, With Certainty.” Andover performs at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 22 and North Reading performs at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. All performance at John Hancock, Back Bay, Boston. Tickets on sale through ticketstage.com.
