‘Clippings’ at JHS: Highly rated play on stage for one night only

Jamestown High School students are presenting an award-winning play to the public for one night only on Friday.

“Clippings” earned a superior rating at the Class A One Act Play Festival last week in Devils Lake, N.D.

Eight students, one teacher and three mimes make up a cast that looks deep into themselves to discover personal beliefs as part of a school research paper project, said Jay Nitschke, director.

The teacher asks the students to use newspaper clippings as a base for a paper. Those clippings invoke feelings on a number of issues. The issues start out as negative aspects of life, sometimes impacting the student, and then grow from there, she said.

“It basically deals with all the things that happen in our world and all the issues teenagers face,” Nitschke said of the play. “And in the end there’s love and understanding and forgiveness and acceptance and grace.”

The mimes act as the conscience and dramatize the students’ dilemmas.

“It’s not as far out as it sounds,” Nitschke said. “When you’re picking plays for state you need to pick a play that’s going to challenge your students. Judges are looking for a play that challenges you.”

After the state performance she said the judge told her and the cast that they picked one of the most difficult performances and performed it exceedingly well.

“It’s acting older than somebody and becoming that other person and empathizing with all the other classmates,” said Ashley Stahlhut, a JHS senior, referring to her role as the teacher.

Drama newcomer Matt Baumgartner took home a superior acting award at the state competition for his role as Nate.

“It was really cool to be recognized within the group,” Baumgartner said.

Jace Erickson also placed for solo musical theater at the state competition. He will perform Friday as well.

Nitschke pointed out that it’s not just the actors who performed well but everybody involved, including students who worked on music, sound and lights.

“Everybody had a really big job to do,” she said.

In the end people will hopefully have a new outlook on a number of issues and the outcomes choices about those issues create, Stahlhut said.

“I guess they’ll see a lot of sides to issues teenagers face,” she said.

“Clippings” is at 7 p.m. Friday at the JHS theater. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: diversions, theater, play