Badger High School’s one-act play, “The Amazing Angelman,” competed at the state theater competition at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Nov. 22 and took home eight awards, including Critic’s Choice, the highest award a play can receive.
The play performed to a full house on the Mainstage and received a standing ovation. The plot is about a young boy, James, who suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes speech issues and forces him to use a wheelchair. The story shifts from James’ imagination where he is the superhero, The Amazing Angel-Man, to the real world, where his condition impacts his family, particularly his father. As the play progresses, the two separate worlds overlap, leading to an ending that merges hope and imagination. The play was inspired by a real-life boy with the condition.
The cast included 27 Badger actors and actresses as well as two crew members.
The cast also earned seven other awards including Outstanding Acting Awards to Anthony Mannion, Zane Gallagher, Katie Smith, Mia Barnett and Riley Juszczyk. The Outstanding Ensemble award went to the entire cast, which honors the entire company for collaborating well and for driving effective pacing and characterization of the production. The show also earned an Outstanding Directing for Badger Theater Teacher Andrew Stoltenberg.
Each year, 65 to 80 schools across the state participate in the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association One-Act Play contest series. The first official contest level involves 12 geographic districts.
Schools earning at least two nominations from three adjudicators (judges) – on the basis of potential – at the district level are invited to participate in one of five geographic sections. At the sectional level, schools earning at least two nominations from three adjudicators – on the basis of polish and “state ready” – are invited to participate in the State Festival.
This year 38 schools advanced to the State level. Badger performed at Kenosha Tremper on Oct. 19, advancing to sectionals at Waunakee on Nov. 2 before advancing to the State level. This is the sixth straight year Badger has advanced to state and earned a Critic’s Choice award.
