East High School students created theatrical highlights this winter with their state play production performance.
The Spartans captured third place in the Class A contest with their presentation of “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Director Helen Cooper led East to the school’s fifth straight state appearance. The team tallied scores of 59, 58 and 57 on a 60-point scale from judges.
Myles Hardt felt the team’s close-knit nature made the season successful. The senior performed the lead role of Peter on stage. He was part of a veteran roster that featured 28 cast members and 14 crew members.
“What I enjoyed most about being part of the play production team was the people,” Hardt said. “Everyone is so driven, hardworking and supportive of each other, which creates an amazing environment that promotes growth and just a really good time.”
Cooper said she enjoyed spending time with the Spartans this season. She said students were “incredibly self-motivated” and maintained positive attitudes from the first reading to final performance. Several seniors led their cast groupings and encouraged younger teammates in their roles.
“Our kids worked extremely hard this year,” Cooper said. “They juggled choirs, speech, jobs, sports and other activities while pulling together a special and dynamic show. I love one-act because I can see our kids grow so much as technicians and performers. The competition aspect is fun, but theater really is about working together as a team whether there is an award at the end of the process or not.”
“Peter and the Starcatcher” is a prequel to the familiar story of Peter Pan. The Spartans delivered their narrative about a young orphan who sails from Victorian Britain to a distant island.
Hardt said he learned the value of work ethic from playing Peter. He and other castmates spent many hours memorizing lines, drilling scenes and discovering how best to convey emotions of their characters. Their practice sessions paid off in both individual and group ways.
“I poured more time and energy into the role of Peter than I have for any role before, and it was a challenge,” Hardt said. “But I really felt that I was able to connect to the character on a deeper level than I’ve connected with characters in the past.”
The Spartans scripted their latest stateworthy story this season. Many sophomores, juniors and seniors had booked previous trips to Norfolk’s Johnny Carson Theater in their careers, and they were eager to follow a similar storyline in 2025. East finished second in Class A in 2024, fifth in 2023, fourth in 2022 and sixth in 2021.
Cooper said the program’s five-year state run is a direct result of the investments of time, energy and motivation the Spartans have made.
“I always tell the kids that they built the program,” Cooper said. “I can outline expectations until I’m blue in the face, but my assistant director, Erin Bell, and I can’t be the only people offering reminders and examples of fulfilling those expectations. We had graduated seniors come back and offer character coaching throughout the process, which really speaks to the ownership the kids have taken over the success of the program.”
Class A State Play Production Results
Gretna East 180 points, Gretna 178, Lincoln East 174, Malcolm 173, Lincoln Northwest 170, Fremont 168
Class A State Technical Crew Scores
Lincoln Northwest 58, Gretna East 57, Gretna 57, Lincoln East 56, Malcolm 53, Fremont 52
Lincoln East State Play Production Cast Members
Peter: Myles Hardt
Molly: Claire Rooney
Lord Aster: Hayden Mitchell
Prentiss: Sloan Donahoo
Teddy: Winter Guardiola
Black Stache: Gavin Foust
Mrs. Bumbrake: Ava Swank
Alf: Wade Combs
Smee: Washburn Hoffman
Slank: Aubrey Christensen
Grempkin: Cora Tinsley
Mack: Margeaux Allen
Narrator/Wasp Crew: Jilliana Venema, Lena Kathol, Juho Kim, Cora Thompson
Narrator/Neverland Crew: Pearl DeLong, Christian Paulsen
Teacher: Elizabeth Elitzin
Narrator/Mermaid: Alyssa Zimmerman, Alexandria Hansen, Kaelyn Livers, Brooklyn Ellenbecker, Liv Jarnagin
Fighting Prawn: Ethan Phan
Hawking Clam: Alister Murtagh
Narrator/Mollusk: Britton Fast, Evelyn Ockander
Lincoln East State Play Production Crew Members
Emily ByBee, Aydin Colberg, Lainey Kaufhold, Drew Lafferty, Jake Lenz, Melinda Lierz, Rawand Mohammed, Axol Nguyen, Cinae Schneider, Hazel Silva, Mimi Strong, Jordan Uglow, James Wilksen, Jerrica Zhang
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