For the first time in WJCC Schools theatre history, all three WJCC Schools high schools’ theatre companies competed at the 2022-23 Virginia High School League (VHSL) State Theatre Festival. 

Jamestown High School’s (JHS) theatre company performed the one-act play The Seven Loves of Audrey Munson: A (Mostly) True Story by Jamestown’s Theatre Director, J. Harvey Stone. According to Stone, “The play is about a real-life person who is featured in paintings, statues, sculptures, and more all around New York City. She is a long-forgotten person that people pass by every day.” Stone’s original play won the Best New Play Award at the 2022 Virginia Theatre Association’s annual conference in October. 

Lafayette High School’s (LHS) theatre company performed the one-act play Things I Know to Be True by Andrew Bovell. Suzan McCorry, Lafayette Theatre Director, describes the play as “a complex and intense portrait of the mechanics of a family – and a marriage – through the eyes of four siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.” This is McCorry’s 15th year teaching and 15th consecutive year leading students at the VHSL competition.  

Warhill High School’s (WHS) theatre company, Lions Roar Theatre Company (LRTC), performed the one-act play This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing by Finegan Kruckemeyer. Jacob Noble, Warhill Theatre Director, shares that in Kruckemeyer’s play “Three young sisters are left in a forest by their woodcutter father and forced to find their own way in the world. From this fairytale beginning, three resolutions are made — one sister walks one way to find purpose, one the other to find adventure, and the third stays right where she is to create a home.” A first-year teacher, Noble led the WHS theatre company as they attended the VHSL State Theatre Festival for the first time in Warhill High School’s history. 

Congratulations to all three high schools’ casts, crews, and directors. View the VHSL awards and recognitions each school has received for their one-act plays during the 2022-23 season below: 

The Seven Loves of Audrey Munson: A (Mostly) True Story by J. Harvey Stone – JHS 

• 2nd Place – 2022 Super Region 4A Theatre Festival 
• 3rd Place – 2022-23 VHSL State Theatre Festival Class 4 Ensemble 

Things I Know to Be True by Andrew Bovell – LHS 

• 1st Place – 2022 VHSL Regional 3A/3B Theatre Festival 
• 2nd Place – 2022-23 VHSL State Theatre Festival Class 3 Ensemble 

This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing by Finegan Kruckemeyer – WHS  

• 1st Place – 2022 VHSL Region 4A Theatre Festival  
• 1st Place – 2022 VHSL Super Region 4A Theatre Festival 
• 4th Place – 2022-23 VHSL State Theatre Festival Class 4 Ensemble 

While our ensembles had great success and have much to be proud of, individual students were also recognized for their hard work:  

Jamestown High School 

• Cali Kohlman – 2022 VHSL Region 4A Outstanding Actor Honorable Mention 
• Endya Godwin – 2022 VHSL Super Regional Honorable Mention 
• Skylar Jensen – 2022 VHSL Super Regional Outstanding Actor 

 Lafayette High School 

• Isaac Kelce – 2022 VHSL Region 3A Theatre Festival Best Actor 5th Place 
• JD Lawrence – 2022 VHSL Region 3A Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 2nd Place 
• Madi Walk – 2022 VHSL Region 3A Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 1st Place 
• Madi Walk – 2022-23 VHSL Class 3 State Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 
• Reagan Schlimme – 2022 VHSL Region 3A Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor Honorable Mention 
• Reagan Schlimme – 2022-23 VHSL Class 3 State Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 

Warhill High School 

• Anneliese Bush – 2022 VHSL Region 4A Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 
• Anneliese Bush – 2022 VHSL Super Region 4A/4B Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 
• Calisa Hagerman – 2022 VHSL Region 4A Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 
• Hailey Crusenberry – 2022 VHSL Super Region 4A/4B Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor 
• Steven Rains – 2022 VHSL Region 4A Theatre Festival Outstanding Actor