THE THOMAS PAINE PANTHER
Playscripts, Inc. Publishers
https://blog.playscripts.com/play/56630 - 40 minutes
4 f, 4 m
Set: Unit set.
Set during the AIDS crisis. The student staff of the Thomas Paine High School newspaper has been banned from publishing their annual "Best/Worst" issue, but their headstrong editor is determined to go ahead with it. Mr. Smith, the paper's sponsor, discovers what the students are up to just as they learn a shocking secret about him -- and this triggers a high-stakes confrontation on ethics, journalism, and the rules of being a teacher and friend.
Photos from the First Colonial High School production directed by Zack Kattwinkel:
Presented at both the Virginia Thespian Festival and the Virginia High School League Class 5A Sectionals. FCHS received the following accolades:
- Best "Truth in the World" Award at Thespian Festival (an important theme or idea with relevance to the audience)
- 3rd Place and Overall Rating of "Excellent" at VHSL
- Outstanding Performance Awards for Elijah Gumm (Mr. Smith) at both
- Outstanding Performance Awards for Calix Kimel (Kirk Mayer) at both
- Outstanding Performance Award for Charlye Levine (Heather) at VTF
- Outstanding Performance Award for Lex Shoemaker (Karen) at VTF
- Outstanding Performance Award for Axel Sifuentes (Anzo - Alma) at VHSL