Skyline theater students steal the spotlight

High school students are known for being dramatic, but Skyline's theater group takes the cake. In February, Skyline students won two of three awards given in the musical theater competition at the prestigious Lenaea Festival at California State University—one of the oldest theater festival programs for high school students in the country.

The three-day festival showcases high schoolers' one-act plays, monologues, scenes, and musical theater solos, and includes workshops and presentations. To perform in the musical theater category, each actor submitted an audition tape, and judges selected only a handful to compete.

Bringing home awards for Skyline were:

• Connor Russell, who won the top gold prize along with a $300 scholarship to a performing arts training camp this summer for his performance of "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd.
• Eoin Sharkey, who won the bronze medal for his performance of "One Song Glory" from Rent.

This capped a successful showing at the Bellevue Community College Short Play Festival earlier this year, where Skyline awards included:

• Production of an Original Play: Skyline High School, My Box or Yours
• Playwright Drama: Kelsey Thorgalsen, In My Room
• Male Actor: Jacob Moe-Lange, In My Room
• Male Actor: Eoin Sharkey, In My Room
• Character Work: Taylor Van Cise, My Box or Yours