Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Dreher High School to represent S.C. in national theater competition



The Dreher High School Drama Department performs The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

The Dreher High School Drama Department performs The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

The Dreher Drama Department won the coveted Chapter Select Award at the South Carolina International Thespians and Palmetto Dramatic Association Festival for its performance of the one-act, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. As Chapter Select, this group of juniors and seniors will represent the state of South Carolina as part of the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University.

The Palmetto Dramatic Association’s annual weekend festival is a showcase of theatre work produced across South Carolina. More than 30 high schools participated in this year’s event, which honors excellence in theatre. In addition to being chosen as Chapter Select, Dreher students won several individual Superior awards for Monologues, Solo Musical, Duet Musical, and Costume Design.

“ With so many schools that excel in theater in South Carolina, it’s such an honor to be able to share what Dreher student artists can do with a wider audience,” said Kathleen Pennyway. “But winning Chapter Select is more than just an award— it is the chance to share our exceptional work with hundreds of theater students and teachers from all over the country. We are so proud and grateful the judges felt our work was worthy to represent South Carolina at the national level.”

International Thespian Society’s national festival will be at Indiana University in the latter part of June. The S.C. Thespians are a part of this larger organization designated to provide these opportunities for the state’s acting students.

“It was quite literally a dream come true. Something I had dreamt about happening but never thought would,” said Liam Judge, one of the winners of the Superior Acting Award for his leading role in Edward Tulane. “To represent our state with a group of artists who’ve also been my friends for years is an indescribable feeling.”

Fundraising to help support the cost of the trip has already begun, and donations for this talented group of students are welcome through a GoFundMe set up by the Dreher Drama Booster Club, which can be found at gofund.me/4d6e8d4f.

“Many of our young artists do not have the means to pay the trip on their own, but this experience is so very important and builds incredible skills that they will use in college, their careers, beyond the stage, and in life,” said Pennyway. “We hope the community will help support them as they represent the best of what our educational system can be.”

The script for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is based on a book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo. The one-act adaptation was written by Dwayne Hartford. Before they head to Indiana, the students performed one more time at the Hunter-Gatherer Brewery/Taproom June 16.

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