WHS Drama Club Celebrates Two Prestigious Distinctions

Williston High School Drama Club is proud to be representing North Dakota as the High School Premiere of Disney's Frozen. Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee. Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions. WHS's Drama Club was part of a national competition and were selected for this prestigious opportunity.

They can't wait to share this amazing production with all of you. Show Dates & Times are Friday, May 5 at 7:00 pm and matinee performances at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7. Tickets are on sale now and they're going fast. williston.ludus.com

Winning the Frozen national competition isn't the only thing the WHS Drama Club is celebrating. For its great dedication to the subject, Williston High School recently received the distinction of being declared a Premiere Community for Theatre Education. The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) honors certain schools for their outstanding efforts in ensuring that all students have access to and experience theatre education.

According to Dr. Richard H. Faidley, the superintendent of schools for Williston Basin School District 7, “Theatre education provides our students with skills they can use while in high school and in their future. Our theatre department instills a strong work ethic, collaboration, dedication, and teamwork. I am extremely proud that Williston has been recognized as a Premiere Community for Theatre Education and consider ourselves fortunate to have such a dedicated community that supports our District to provide such an outstanding program to our students."

Participating in school theater has been shown to have positive effects on both learning and social-emotional development. One study found that participating in an after-school musical theatre program increased the confidence, creativity, resiliency, responsibility, collaboration, and feeling of community of at-risk middle school children. According to a different study, students who received drama based education connected to the course material more effectively. 95% of school administrators agree that pupils' overall academic skills are improved by theater activities.

Disney's Frozen is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com

Frozen the Broadway Musical Cast List

Anna - Theo Martin

Elsa - Blesselle Mojeres

Kristoff - Clark Thurgood

Sven - Leah Jorgenson

Prince Hans - Sterling Fitzgerald

Olaf - Teylor Fisk

Young Anna - Brooklyn Lawrence

Young Elsa - Aliyah Del Rosario

King Agnarr - Skyler Thurgood

Queen Iduna - Moss Newson

Duke of Weselton - Zach Hartley

Pabbie - Blake Toavs

Bulda - Alyssa Horob

Oaken - AJ Gustafson

Lackey 1 - Tucker Leibrand

Lackey 2 - Blake Toavs

Bishop - Isaiah Schug

Guard 1 - Brody Smith

Guard 2 - Kory Chapman

Deacon - Michelle Foster

Townspeople, Oaken Family, Servants, Hidden Folk

Kendra Barbarick, Avery Barker, Lainey Barker, Averi Christensen, Sophie Christoffersen, Emily Courchene, Zoey Damm, Sienna Degenstein, Michaelyn Egan, Kaydence Gibbens, Adrianna Ginther, Isabel Gutierrez, Layla Kemmet, Katelyn Kolness, Julia Monfil, Paige Nauman, Kyla Nelsen, Taiia Nelson, Savanna Olsen, Sadie Olson, Lynnsie Peters, Callie Poff, Serenity Potteiger, Margaret Purkey, Anna Reeves, Rebecca Rhinehart, Tralyn Rhoades, Josalynn Sanders, Susie Schug, Natalie Strunz, Josie Tsikata, Ari Weight, Kateland Zaste

Here Are The 7 Remaining Drive-In Theaters In South Dakota

If you were born last century...you know, in the nineteen hundreds (ugh)...you may have spent a summer evening in the car watching movies. I don't mean on your phone, I mean at the drive-in movie theater!

If you were in Sioux Falls in the 1970s and '80's you may remember seeing Jaws and Indiana Jones at The East Park or the Starlite Drive-In. Both drive-ins opened just after World War 2. The East Park didn't make it out of the '70s, closing in 1978. The Starlite survived long enough to see the birth of home video, closing in 1985.

FLASHBACK: Remember the East Park and Starlite Drive-in Theaters in Sioux Falls?

Drive-in movies had a bit of a resurgence during the pandemic. They were a way to go out and do something social without getting out of your car.

If you tried one during that time, or you remember the fun of a warm summer evening watching movies on that giant screen there are still places in South Dakota and around Sioux Falls you can do it.