The first annual contest was held at the Ridgedale Players Theater on May 3, 2001. Six Area high schools
and one home schooled student participated. The level of performance and understanding by the students was
impressive. In fact, while the board of directors had originally authorized scholarships for first and second
place, the top finishers were so close that the scholarship committee took it upon themselves to add a third
prize. Congratulations to the following winners:
Ada Boettcher (1st Place,
$500 scholarship). Ada is a senior at Cranbrook-Kingswood Upper School who
will be pursuing a Theatre major at the prestigious New York University next
year. At Cranbrook, she is a state award winning forensics team member for
multiple interpretation, and she played the lead role in fall 2000 play.
At First Theatre Guild in Birmingham, Ada also played a leading role in Cheaper
By The Dozen this fall. Ada spent last summer at Cranbrook Theatre School
where she played Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream under the direction of
Ridgedale member Tony Castellani.
Peter Kryzwicki (2nd place, $300
scholarship). Peter is a Freshman at Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School
who recently played Peter in Diary of Anne Frank with Lahser and Bill Sykes in
Oliver with Rising Stars. With Rising Stars and East Hills Theatre Guild,
Peter has enjoyed leading roles in many productions including Macbeth (Macbeth),
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lysander and later Oberon), As You Like It (Orlando),
The Comedy of Errors (Antipholous), Spoon River Anthology, Bye Bye Birdie
(Mayor), The Man Who Came to Dinner, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice
and others. Peter was also a state award winner in duo interpretation for
forensics as a middle school student and is currently a member of Lahser High
School's Mock Trial Team that placed 2nd in state this year.
Ashley Nummer (3rd Place, $200 scholarship).
Ashley is a sophmore at Birmingham Groves High School. She is a diverse
student who plays soccer, participates in debate and had a leading role in the
drama Tangled Snarl this year. Ashley also placed 2nd in novice states in
debate this year.