Complex High School Theatre Students Win Shakespearean Festival In St. Thomas

St. Croix Educational Complex theatre students who had spent long days and nights preparing themselves almost did not get to participate in the Shakespearean Festival held in St. Thomas on Friday, because of a Department of Education failure to purchase travel tickets. Quite frankly, if it was not for the quick moves of the high school’s administration and Senator Alicia Barnes, and the generosity of some private sector firms, the students’ dream of participation and, if they did well enough, victory, would have been dashed.

Well, not only did the students get to travel to St. Thomas for the competition, hosted by the Pistarckle Theater, they actually won the whole thing over five other schools — Charlotte Amalie High School, the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, the St. Thomas- St. John Seventh Day Adventist School, and the Church of God Academy. The students won in the plays category as well as the monologues. Coming in second place was the Seventh Day Adventist School.

The students on Thursday had expressed their frustration after receiving a message from D.O.E. two days before their scheduled travel to St. Thomas that they would not be able to attend because the department had not purchased the tickets. But D.O.E., the students said, had been told repeatedly of the upcoming event for roughly three months before, and many times following the initial request, and even so had failed to secure the tickets.

Determined, the students along with members of the school’s administration mobilized to find a solution. Ms. Barnes was contacted by Alicia Ramos, a teacher at the St. Croix Educational Complex and coordinator of the play, to see how the senator could help. Ms. Barnes then made contact with a number of private sector firms, including G.E.C., Ocean Systems Laboratories, BioImpact and Warren Mosler’s QEIV Ferry Service, for assistance. The firms agreed to help the students.

“Congratulations to the SCEC students for winning their division of the Shakespearean Festival. Our students displayed true tenacity.  I am extremely proud of them and happy to have assisted with their efforts.  Special thanks to the private sector partners who stepped forward to support our students,” Ms. Barnes said.

The play that won SCEC the championship was named Macbeth, a tragedy play by William Shakespeare thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatizes the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. Teachers Ramos and Florence Marsh were coordinators, with Ms. Ramos coordinating the play, while Ms. Marsh coordinated the monologue.

Enperatriz Delgadillo, part of the group’s senior ensemble, on behalf of the class thanked those who helped in making the victory a reality.

“We would like to give a special thank you to everyone who assisted in creating this success. From costumes to transportation and everything in-between: VI Department of Education, Senator Alicia Barnes, Pamela New, the SCEC Administration, faculty and staff, and private sponsors.”

She also provided the following quote, “Though you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, you can always push the rock.” -Anonymous

Below, cast members and roles:

School:  St. Croix Educational Complex High School (2019 Vento Shakespeare Festival Champions, Clear Energetic Story Telling, Senior Ensemble Best Scene)

Play:  Macbeth

Act & Scene: Act 5, scenes 3, 5, 8

Teacher: Mrs. Alicia Ramos

Stage Managers: Korie Hodge

Production Manager: Aniis Lester & Arlenys Montas

Stage Manager: Korie Hodge

Costume & Props Designer: Enperatriz Delgadillo & Shaherah Laville

Sound Effects Technician: Micaya Labadie

Students Names/Roles:

Enperatriz Delgadillo – Macduff (Senior Ensemble Best Actress)

Avision Lang – Macbeth 

Korie Hodge – Messenger

Micaya Labadie – Malcolm

Nadesha Julian – Siward & Lady Macbeth

Shomauri Gumbs – Ross

Jamila George – Seyton  

Shomauri Gumbs – Doctor

Aniis Lester – Servant

2019 Shakespeare Festival

Monologues Form

School: St. Croix Educational Complex High School

Teacher: Ms. Florence Marsh

Monologues: 

Liza Perdomo – Constance (Energetic Opening Monologue/Duologue, Best Performer Monologue/Duologue, Best Monologue/Doulogue)

Mojonia Denis – Mark Anthony (Most Creative Production Elements Monologue/Duologue)

Kade’jah Stevens – Portia (Commitment to Character Senior Ensemble)

Gelysia Anderson – Constance

Jamoy Hardy – Clarence

Jamaris Nesbitt – Viola

Darren Paul – Gloucester

Demi Trimm – Queen Margaret