Ringgold High Performing Arts Troupe become GHSA AAA state champions
It was a long day on Nov. 9 for the cast and crew of Ringgold High School Performing Arts Troupe 8715. Students boarded a bus for Forsythe, 160 miles away, at 6:30 a.m. for a day they knew would not end until the sun was long down.
On the way, the group made a side-stop in Adairsville, where seven students tried out for All-state Chorus. Also on the road and on the way to Forsythe were all four RHS principals. “We were so happy,” says the troupe’s assistant director Kelly Schroder, “that all the principals came. They stayed the whole day.”
Troupe 8715 won the Georgia High School Association Region Six AAA competition on Oct. 24, along with the privilege of performing the musical “Bright Star” at the state level AAA competition. Eight schools made it to state level. This was the first time RHS made it to state.
RHS was the seventh performance of the day. They stepped onto the stage at 5:45 p.m. and had exactly 55 minutes to be off. “The timing is really important,” says Schroder. “Going over by even a second or two can knock you out of competition.”
Schroder says students must set up their props, perform and have the stage cleared of their props within the allotted 55 minutes. “The students have a very good sense of timing on the whole thing,” she says. “We finished at 54 minutes, 31 seconds.”
The RHS performance was rewarded with a standing ovation. One more school performed after RHS, then began the wait while the judges deliberated. It wasn’t until 9:30 p.m. that the decisions were made and the awards ceremony began.
Fourth place was announced. Then third. Then second. Then – first place, state champions: Ringgold High School Performing Arts Troupe 8715.
In addition to their firstplace win, some individual members won awards. “The judges can pick up to two performers from each school to win Allstar Cast awards,” says Schroder.
Brianna Reaves and Trevor Hyatt from RHS were chosen by judges for Allstar Cast.
The other award was Best Actor and Best Actress from the entire competition. The Best Actor Award went to RHS student Eli Talley.
When the homewardbound, bone-weary group reached their interstate exit close to 1:30 a.m., they were met by a Ringgold police escort to see them home the rest of the way. “That meant a lot to us,” says Schroder.
Troupe 8715 will perform “Bright Star” one more time, partly, says Schroder, because so many people have been asking them to and partly to help raise money for State Champion rings that students must purchase themselves and cost in the neighborhood of $200 each.
Tamara Wolk is a reporter for The Catoosa County News in Ringgold, Ga., and Walker County Messenger in Lafayette, Ga.