Students in Monsignor Edward Pace High School’s Academy of Fine Arts Theatre Program won awards in 24 events, including 4 Critic’s Choice awards, at the District 8 competitions for the Florida State Thespian organization.
The District 8 competitions, held on November 22 and December 6, gathered students from drama programs across Miami-Dade County, making District 8 the largest and one of the most competitive districts in Florida.
Four Pace students took home Critic’s Choice awards, which are given to the student deemed best in the entire district. Senior Christopher Cheng won the Critic’s Choice award in the Solo Musical category. The other three Critic’s Choice awards came in Technical Design, despite this being only the first year that Pace has offered the subject as part of its theatre program.
In the Technical Design categories, senior Jessica Caravia won Critic’s Choice for Makeup Design, senior Jamie Adelson won for Playwriting, and senior Bradley Perez won for Sound Design. In addition to the Critic’s Choice awards, Pace drama students were also awarded 15 Superiors and nine Excellents.
Throughout all of their years at Pace, the students have been led by Cristina Pla-Guzman, the lead teacher for Pace’s Academy of Fine Arts Theatre Program. Pla-Guzman was beyond thrilled with her students’ success, stating that “so often the kids you are trying to inspire are the ones that inspire you.”
After their resounding success at Districts, Pla-Guzman and her Pace drama students will be performing in the school’s winter musical on January 28-30 before working towards the state competitions being held in March.