The Claremont High School Theatre Department will perform The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) on April 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Claremont High School’s Don F. Fruechte Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s “Complete Works of William Shakespeare” presents all 37 works by the world’s most famous playwright in 97 minutes! An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays, the show was London’s longest-running comedy, clocking a venerable nine years in at the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End.

Join these madcap students in a hilarious presentation as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and shaking with laughter. The Today Show says, “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll love this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!”

Tickets are available online at the CHS ASB Web Store at $9 pre-sale or $10 at the box office. Pre-sale is strongly recommended due to the fact that the show may sell out. For information, visit chstheatre.cusd.claremont.edu or call the Claremont High School Theatre at (909) 624-9053 ext. 30463.

The CHS Theatre Department is celebrating more than just another promising production. Students returned from the California State Thespian Festival, held April 1-3 at the Highland Auditorium in Upland, with a slew of awards, as well as the knowledge that CHS Theatre is once again ranked in the top one percent of programs in the state.

During the course of the weekend students competed in dozens of events, attended workshops, saw performances and vied for $15,000 in scholarship money. They competed against more than 1200 high school thespians from 65 high schools in the state.

Xavier Reynoso was first in state for Solo Musical Performance; Diego Henriquez and Aubrey Schoeman were first in state for Duet Acting; Morgan Lui was first in state for Make Up Design; Elena Ramsey was second in state for Monologue; Amanda Deal was second in state for Solo Musical, and Dalia Auerbach and Liz Burgiss were third in state for Duet Musical. CHS’ The Laramie Project took second in state for Scene Fest.

A number of students received superior ratings, meaning their performances were among the top one percent in the state. These included Lauren Haskins, Samantha Hengesbach and Nicole Wood for Costume Construction; Morgan Lui for Make Up Design; Dalia Auerbach, Jonas Huffer, Kelly McGarry, Rahannon Olea, Zach Offill-Jackson, Elena Ramsey, Hailey Scott, Neema Shariari, Abby Weiler and Sophie Willard-Van Sistine for Monologue; and the teams of Jason Acosta and Sophie Willard-Van Sistine, Diego Henriquez and Aubrey Schoeman and Hailey Scott and Jacob Garcia for Duet Acting.

Other performances receiving superior ranking include Jeremiah Alarcon, Dalia Auerbach, Liz Burgiss, Candace Coe, Amanda Deal, Allegra Fass, Xavier Reynoso, Carly Sanden and Evan Spruce for Solo Musical; Miranda Michno for Musical Theatre Dance; Neema Shariari, Joe Lowe and Caden Hengesbach for Group Acting; and the teams of Carly Sanden and Riley Polanski and Dalia Auerbach and Liz Burgiss for Duet Musical

A number of students also received callbacks, meaning their performances were ranked among the top four percent in the state. These included Dalia Auerbach, Jonas Huffer, Kelly McGarry, Zach Offill-Jackson, Rahannon Olea, Elena Ramsey, Hailey Scott, Neema Shariari, Abby Wieler and Sophie Williard-Van Sistine in Monologue; Jeremiah Alarcon, Liz Burgiss, Candace Coe, Allegra Fass, Mandy Deal, Xavier Reynoso, Carly Sanden and Evan Spruce in Solo Musical; the teams of Diego Henriquez and Aubrey Schoeman, Sophie Willard-Van Sistine and Jason Acosta and Hailey Scott and Jacob Garcia in Duet Acting; and Dalia Auerbach and Liz Burgiss in Duet Musical.

There were other coups as well.

Sophie Willard-Van Sistine won the Ellis Jordan Scholarship for the International Thespian Festival and Riley Polanksi won the Undergrad Scholarship. Dalia Auerbach and Sophie Willard-Van Sistine were honored for serving on the 2015-2016 California State Thespian Board and Aubrey Schoeman and Sophie Willard-Van Sistine were elected to the 10-student California State Student Thespian Board for the 2016-2017 school year.

A number of students were also selected to join 50 students statewide in performing the California All State Show. These include Katherine Arboleda, Allegra Fass, Jacob Garcia, Julia Kim, Riley Polanski, Elena Ramsey, Xavier Reynoso and Abby Weiler. Students selected to work All California Production Technical Crews include Dylan Cumpston and Zach Offill-Jackson (carpentry); Jeremiah Alarcon (scenic crew); Natalie Nguyen and Zachary Wakefield (media); Sydney Crozier, Lauren Haskins, Morgan Lui and Nicole Wood (costumes); Dylan Corliss, Joe Lowe, Rahannon Olea, Allison Weeks and Nicole Wood (front of house) and Jonas Huffer (tech crew). 

Sixty-three percent of Claremont students who attended the California State Thespian Festival qualified to attend the upcoming Nationals in June at the International Thespian Festival. Kudos to a hardworking and talented bunch of students!

—Sarah Torribio

storribio@claremont-courier.com