2023: Metamorphoses
North Theatre Awarded Critic’s Choice for 25th Year!
PLUS ENSEMBLE, TECHNICAL, DIRECTING, AND ACTING AWARDS!
North’s “Metamorphoses” cast & crew competed at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Theatre Festival state finals Nov. 17 at UW-Green Bay and swept all award categories. In addition to the prestigious Critic’s Choice award for overall excellence, North was awarded an Outstanding Ensemble Acting Award, an Outstanding Technical Theatre Award, and a Director’s Award. Two students, Eryn Lemmert and Kai Handwerker, were recognized with Outstanding Individual Acting Awards.
This is the twenty-fifth year in a row that North has received the top award of Critic’s Choice, the only high school in the 100+ year history of the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival to achieve such a distinction.
More than 1800 high school students participated in this year’s festival, which required each school to present for evaluation a fully-staged play of no longer than 40 minutes. Less than half of the competing high schools typically qualify for state after having competed in both district and sectional meets held in October and early November. Each qualifying school then performs for a panel of four judges during the two-day festival, which adjudicates the performance and decides on the quality of the production and what honors, if any, should be awarded.
North Theatre One Act Advances to State!
FREE STATE SENDOFF PERFORMANCE OF ‘METAMORPHOSES’ TUES., NOV. 14
The Appleton North High School One-Act cast and crew will present a state send-off performance of the play METAMORPHOSES on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the North auditorium. Admission is FREE, and the event will conclude by 8:30 p.m.
Nominated for three Tony Awards, Mary Zimmerman’s METAMORPHOSES brings the Greek myths of Ovid to stunning visual life. Funny one moment, achingly sorrowful the next, METAMORPHOSES juxtaposes the ancient and the contemporary in both language and image to reflect the power of myth to touch and transform our lives. Several theatrical techniques have been utilized to help relate and enhance the stories including abstract movement and mime, music, choric narration, and the imaginative use of water.
North Theatre Director Ron Parker stated, “Metamorphoses continues to be one of the most heralded works of the contemporary stage. Through stunning stagecraft and moving poetic language we are shown the continuing and compelling influence mythology has on the human imagination. Mary Zimmerman reanimates ancient tales with the electricity of the modern stage, allowing actors and technicians the opportunity to share these playful, poignant, and powerful stories in new and engaging ways.”
The 40 members of North’s cast and crew recently qualified for the 2023 Wisconsin Interscholastic State Theatre Festival Final competition at U.W. Green Bay on Nov. 16-18. More than 1800 high school students will participate in this year’s festival, which requires each school to present for evaluation a fully-staged play of no longer than 40 minutes. Less than half of the competing high schools typically qualify for state after having competed in both district and sectional meets held in October and early November. Each qualifying school then performs for a panel of four judges during the two-day festival, which adjudicates the performance and decides on the quality of the production and what honors, if any, should be awarded.
This is the twenty-fifth year in a row that North has qualified for state. Appleton North High School’s one act productions have also received the top award of Critics Choice every year for the past twenty-four consecutive years, the only high school in the 100+ year history of the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival to achieve such a distinction.
For further information contact Ron Parker, director at parkerronaldc@aasd.k12.wi.us .
‘METAMORPHOSES’ Cast & Crew
Introduction
Woman by the Water– Sunny March-Torme
Scientist– Emily Lange
Zeus– Fern Frey
Midas
Laundresses– Lily Goodwin, Emily Lange, Lilah Bennett
Midas– Eryn Lemmert
Midas’ Daughter– Amelia Ornstein
Servant– Adrian Bronson
Silenus– Maggie Hendrick
Bacchus– Lauren Leroy
Alcyone and Ceyx
Narrators– EJ Nissen, Gabby Javenkoski
Alcyone– Audra Jenike
Ceyx– Aiden Nettekoven
Poseidon– Max Lietzan-Buechel
Aphrodite– Jaida Folwarski
Iris– Phillip Moran
Sleep– Rain Branstetter
Lucina– Marlie Bowleg
Hermes– Bennett Boggs
Erysichthon
Narrators– Marlie Bowleg, Maggie Hendrick, Fern Frey
Erysichthon– Caleb Lietzan-Buechel
Spirit of the Tree– Adrian Bronson
Ceres– Ale Aguilar
Oread– Amelia Ornstein
Hunger– Kai Handwerker
Mother– Lauren Leroy
Buyer– Blake Werner
Orpheus and Eurydice
Narrators– Audra Jenike, Eryn Lemmert
Orpheus– Max Lietzan-Buechel
Eurydice– Sunny March-Torme
Hades– Aiden Nettekoven
Persephone– Lily Goodwin
Phaeton
Therapist– Gabby Javenkoski
Phaeton– Jaida Folwarski
Apollo– Emily Lange
Baucis and Philemon
Narrators– Ale Aguilar, Blake Werner, Phillip Moran, Caleb Lietzan-Buechel, Kai Handwerker
Baucis– EJ Nissen
Philemon– Rain Branstetter
Woman– Lilah Bennett
Tech Positions
Stage Managers: Nora Schumacher, Silas Rettler, Mya Ballerstein
Lead Technicians: Allison Tumas, Charlie Hintz
Costumes: Charlotte Funk, Cal Huenink, Boba O’Kelly
Light Board: Charlie Hintz
On Stage Lights: Kailyn Marzullo
Spot Light: Zach Tumas
Sound Board: Allison Tumas, Emmy Streu
Props: Fern Price, Maycee Gore
Run Crew: Kurtis Hall, Sisam Lamichhane, Max Meyer, Lilyana Volkman