Olympic Peninsula News Group
SEQUIM — Judges must love Sequim’s renditions of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”
The Sequim High School’s 51st operetta won “Outstanding Scenic Design” at the 5th Avenue Theatre Awards on June 12 at McCaw Hall in Seattle. Sequim was the only high school on the North Olympic Peninsula to win an award in one of the 21 categories statewide.
This is the third time Sequim’s show has won an award. In the school’s 2007 production, Blake Barnes won “Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” as Gideon and The Brothers ensemble won “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.”
For this year’s show, director Robin Hall said Gary Ristick researched ideas for the set and Jeff Hall designed the lighting and projections, both with help from students.
Hall said three elements played into the show’s atmosphere — “the projections gave the scenes depth and they were so beautiful, the rotating house that unfolded gave us different settings and dimensions, and our avalanche scene combined moving projections with 3-D snow on stage.”
The show’s scenic design was one of five nominations including Silas Baird as Adam Pontipee for “Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role,” The Brothers ensemble for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group” and honorable mentions for Abby Norman for “Outstanding Choreography” and John Lorentzen for “Outstanding Music Direction.”
“I was so proud of everyone,” Hall said. “The cast really did give 100 percent.”
Baird’s nomination follows a handful of SHS actors considered for the accolade.
“I loved the chemistry between our two leading actors [Baird and Victoria Hall],” Robin Hall said. “They both took directions well, and Sequim High is proud to have our fifth nominations for leading man.”
Norman, a junior, also received back-to-back nominations after leading choreography for “Cinderella” last year.
“The dances were so big and so fun for the audience to watch,” Robin Hall said.
For the nominations, 5th Avenue judges come to random productions at area high schools during the 2016-17 school year. Sequim’s “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” ran May 5-20.
The win for scenic design is Sequim’s fourth including the two wins from 2007 and for “Outstanding Costume Design” at 2008’s “Wizard of Oz.”
For more information on the 5th Avenue Awards, visit www.facebook.com/5thAvenueEdu or www.5thavenue.org/ education/student- programs.
