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State Theatre Festival to be held at Avondale High School on Feb. 14-15

Media Contact: Sue Briggs, Avondale School District, 248.537.6041, susan.briggs@avondale.k12.mi.us; Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, 248.651.7536/cell: 586.817.8414, barbara@eafocus.com

Auburn Hills, Mich. —Feb. 11, 2014— Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, announces the Avondale Theatre Company, Avondale High School’s award-winning drama troupe, scored a One Rating at the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association (MIFA) Regional Theatre Festival on Feb. 8. The Avondale Theatre Company’s success at the regional competition qualified the troupe for the state competition being held at Avondale High School Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15.

MIFA runs an annual, month-long, three-tiered theatre festival that challenges schools from across the state to create traveling 45-minute productions that get adjudicated at various sites around Michigan. The festival culminates with a two-day, thirteen-show extravaganza, held this year at Avondale High School on Feb. 14 and 15. The festival crowns state champs in Division I and Division II.

At the regional festival, Avondale Theatre Company’s production of The Brick and the Rose garnered not only the highest score in the competitive Division I slate, but numerous individual honors for the Avondale cast. Beth Snook, senior from Auburn Hills, received her second consecutive festival award, the An Excellence in Set Design award; Joey Howard, senior from Troy, received Superior Honors, the highest individual award MIFA bestows, for his light design; Joey Howard, Cat Blomberg, sophomore from Auburn Hills, Marissa Rogers, junior from Bloomfield Hills, and Bryan Iglesias, senior from Rochester Hills, received honors for their sound design and execution; Stephanie Hubbard, senior from Rochester Hills, received honors for her shirt and logo design; Bryan Iglesias received honors for his original musical score; and the entire 11-member cast won a superior award for ensemble acting in addition to Tyler Mercer, junior from Auburn Hills, Mimi Asante, junior from Auburn Hills, Elka Hutcheson, freshman from Auburn Hills, and Grant Cleaveland, junior from Troy, each received individual acting recognition.

“We are beyond excited with the outcome of the regional competition,” said Edmond Guay, Avondale theatre director who has helmed the Avondale Theatre Company for 27 years. “To receive a one our first year in a higher division during the regional competition and to have so many individual awards speaks to the talent of our company.”

The Brick and the Rose marks the 14th time the Avondale Theatre Company has qualified for the state finals. In 2013, Avondale’s Bullshot Crummond won the state title in Division II and was the highest point earner for the entire festival. This year, Avondale is competing in Division I.

“The Avondale Theatre Company puts their heart and soul, and an incredible amount of talent, into their productions. The entire district joins me in congratulating them on their success at the regional competition and welcomes them home to compete for the state title,” said Avondale Superintendent Dr. George Heitsch.

The MIFA State Theatre Festival will be held at Avondale High School located at 2800 Waukegan St., Auburn Hills 48326, on Friday, Feb. 14 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Avondale’s production hits the stage at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Festival passes can be purchased at the Avondale Theatre Company box office for each day or both days. For more information, contact Edmond Guay at 248.537.6210.

About Avondale School District
The Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED certified district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.

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