“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and entrances ...,” muses Shakespearean character Jaques in “As You Like It.” And he was right.

Last weekend at the Maine Drama Festival One Act Competition, students statewide competed for the chance to take their show to the State Competition March 23 and 24.

And, of our local student thespians, Lincoln Academy took first place in Class A; Medomak Valley High students were the runners up.

Lincoln Academy drama students presented “Blood Wedding” by Federico Garcia Lorca, a work Heartwood Regional Theater Company presented in May 2005. Those of you who saw the amazing production know it’s a challenging work. The play is set in Spain and includes strong dance and music of the flamenco tradition that could prove too demanding for young drama students … not so in this case!

Director Griff Braley (theater and film faculty at Lincoln Academy, said this is LA’s eleventh regional title in 12 years!

“Two judges awarded perfect scores (100) to the cast, the third a 93, along with an ensemble award for the entire production,” said Braley. “The judges had very positive things to say about the students like professional, stunning, moving ...”

The students are very excited to be competing in the State Competition. “Two-thirds have not been to the one acts, so they are feeling good about states and committed to more work on the piece,” added Braley. “We couldn't ask for more.”

At Windham High, some adaptions will have to be made because the auditorium is quite large. Braley said the LA drama students will have to work on vocal production to keep the voices strong, adapt scenes to the space, and because the lighting is rather complex, it will require some adaption as well.

“The tech crew will travel to Windham High School on Saturday, March 17 to prepare for the technical aspects of the State Festival on March 23 and 24, where the full ensemble will compete with the top eight schools from across the state,” said Braley. “We are thankful for the support the Lincoln Academy community has given these students in their quest – and as they continue to the next level!”

The LA drama students: Kayleigh Tolley, Jonah Daiute, Hannah Davis, Aubree Cookson, Akiko Montanaro, Nicholas Miaoulis, Ryan Kohnert, Rachael Schuster, May Halm, Camden LeBel, Honora Boothby, Ava Carmolli, Emily Harris, John Henry Eddy Blouin, Ethan Jones, Aidan Stapp, Emmie Ferrill, Ryan Kohnert, Scott Petersen and Tommy Thelander.

Additional awards for the Lincoln Academy thespians: Sequoia Patton (Costuming), Katherine Tolley (Group Choreo/Dance Captain), Ryan Kohnert (Light Design), Scott Peterson and Tommy Thelander (live music).

In the Class B category, Wiscasset Middle High School drama students took the Runner’s Up award; Winthrop was awarded First Place. Drama teacher/director Jean Phillips said the performance was of “Three Tables,” a comedy-drama by Dan Remmes (who wrote the book “Grumpy Old Men”). The play centers around three couples in various stages of relationships,  dining at a restaurant.

Phillips said judges remarked on how well the students portrayed the adult couples – one in the middle of divorce, another celebrating their wedding anniversary and the couple who met on the Internet and are meeting for the first time face to face.

Phillips said the judges said the waiters and the addition of the roving musician were “particularly good.”

“The judges loved the set saying it gave the piece an incredible sense of place,” Phillips said. “Technical effects like when the curtains opened and the glowing candles on the dining tables gave way to the lights going up – they were awarded a special technical commendation.”

Receiving praise in this area was particularly rewarding: The set was designed and constructed by the WMHS students in the tech theater design class.

The award-winning cast (take one more bow!): Leah Potter, Caleb Gabriele, Sarah Foley, Matt Chapman, Ayanna Main, Kobe Carrier, Josh Dualan, Maize Hagerman, Olivia Peaslee, Megan Syrjala, Savannah Roberts and Vanessa Dunn; technical staff: Kaydin Nichols (stage manager); Ryan Medina and Gwen Webber (lights).

Boothbay Region High School drama students presented selections from “Spoon River Anthology” by Edward Lee Masters, edited and adapted for stage by Mary Miller and Paulette Carter. Miller and Carter also co-directed the piece.

“The students were awesome!” said Miller. “They came in 3^rd in the Class B division and the entire cast received a Special Commendation for their vocals! Jackie McLoon, Brooke Harmon and Sierra Murray received All Festival Cast Awards.”

Miller wrote multiple responses from the monologues for her drama students, which she likened to “a mini Greek chorus.”

The cast: ReAnna Heino, Isabelle Curtis, Brady Harmon, Jay Hasch, Kyle Hicks, Wyatt Timberlake, Kayla Lewis, Becca Taylor, Hayden Brewer, Amaya Marston, Lillian Sherburne, Jacob Wilson, Madeleine McLellan – and Jackie McLoon, Sierra Murray and Brooke Harmon.

The crew: alumni assistant Kate Norton; costuming, Paulette Carter; lighting, Christopher Holmes; lights and sound, Michael Clay-Allan, Annie Bryer, Alex Bryer; fiddle, Bruce MacDonald; set and painting, Jackie McLoon and cast; Madison Gaudette, Carmella Edwards, backstage crew; ReAnna Heino, stage manager; Caitlin Shepherd, set overseer.