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Estancia drama students at the CETA Festival

 

Two Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) high school drama programs were recognized among the top 10 in the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) High School Theatre Festival.

Estancia High School’s production of Neil Simon’s “Fools” was awarded sixth place for Excellent Fall Production, while Corona del Mar (CdM) High School’s production of Rick Elice’s “Peter and the Starcatcher” (based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson) placed seventh. Estancia students Nova Ras and Joseph Harbs were also honored with Director’s Awards for their work in “Fools.”  

CETA adjudicators visit participating high schools throughout Southern California during the fall to grade productions on the acting, directing, technical aspects, and overall effectiveness. Top finishers from the Orange County, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Diego County regions are re-produced during the three-day festival, which offers workshops led by industry professionals, scene competitions, scholarship opportunities, and more.    

“CETA is basically CIF for high school theater. The festival is an inspiring, rewarding experience and an excellent opportunity for drama students to learn and showcase their skills,” said Estancia Drama Teacher Amber Reyes.

Joseph Harbs and Nova Ras of Estancia High School at the CETA Festival

For the Director’s Awards, Reyes selected students from the cast and the crew. “All of the students were extremely dedicated to the show's success. They found that balance between comedy and heart that defines the play, and I am beyond proud of them! I was especially impressed by Nova and Joseph,” she said. 

Junior Nova Ras served as the production’s stage manager, responsible for calling the lighting and sound cues and keeping everyone on track with deadlines, from the cast to the tech crew — even the director/teacher. 

“Stage managers rarely receive the recognition they deserve, but Nova gave the job their all and never skipped a beat. We couldn’t have done the show without Nova,” Reyes said.

While Reyes described Ras as the backbone of the show, she says senior Joseph Harbs was its heart. Though it was his first time in a stage production, he took on a lead role, and “he absolutely crushed it,” Reyes said.  

Congratulations to the talented Estancia and CdM drama students on their well-deserved achievements! At Newport-Mesa, we believe the arts enrich students’ lives and fuel their creativity. Our district remains committed to providing a wide range of visual and performing arts education for all students. Discover how we support and celebrate the creative spirit in all our students by visiting our Arts webpage.