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Congratulations, Bravo and Yippee!!

The Booker High School Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) theater department took top honors at the Florida Theater Conference last weekend. Congratulations to the department, who won first place with their production of "John Lennon and Me." They competed with 30 other high schools from the state of Florida. Junior Mona Pirnot was awarded the prestigious Best Actress Award for her performance as Star in the production. Mary Burns, who plays Courtney, was named to the FTC All-Star Cast. The play is about a teenage girl, self-named Star, trying to cope with having cystic fibrosis. Her favorite singer is John Lennon. The story line is about two girls becoming best friends all the while Star’s fatal disease keeps rearing its ugly head at the most inopportune times. It is a humor filled show with a sad surprise ending that leaves many of the audience members in tears.

The show will go on to represent the state of Florida at the South Eastern Theatre Conference held in Birmingham, Alabama, next March. Additionally, two of Booker's Technical Theatre students and 12 Acting Students auditioned at the conference and garnered over 100 callbacks to prestigious colleges, universities and conservatories from all over the country including New York, Illinois, Texas, Georgia and, of course, Florida.

Candice Artim selected and directed the play, Ken Weigers designed the set, Sheryl Weigers designed the costumes and BHS senior Patrick Bedell designed the lighting. The Cast members include: Kathryn Huxtable, Richard Brandt, Meghan Manahan, Evan Glantz, Mike Foster, Emily Ross, Sabine Jeanty, Kylie Fitch. Ensemble includes Emily Hayes, Simone Curry, Zachary Hlavac, Micah Crosby, Leo Chappell.