By: Victoria Chen
The annual South Mississippi Drama Festival, more commonly known as Drama Fest and the equivalent of playoffs for sports, was held on December 3-4 at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Each year any public or private high school has a chance at submitting their top five students to perform a range of classics and comedies, to tragedies or original works. All together there will be 17 different plays that will be performed.
Oak Grove’s crew was definitely the one to beat. This year at Drama Fest, Oak Grove placed in the top four shows, guaranteeing them a spot at state alongside Biloxi, Ocean Springs, and Pearl River Central. Oak Grove High School is the only school in the state to win the state championship five times, and win the National Championship in 2008.
With Kaz Zumbro as costume, puppet, and mask designer, and Chris Permenter as set designer, the duo plans out what the rest of the team wants and needs for the show to work. And with that knowledge, Zumbro and Permenter devote their precious time into creating a variety of exceptional characters, sets, and props.
Oak Grove High School’s Mrs. Suzanne Allmon has been preparing her group of actors and actresses since September. “We work hard every year, and I always tell my students if they do their absolute best in their performance, that’s all I can ask,” Allmon said.
This year’s State Championship will be held in Meridian at the Riley Center on January 14-16.
