Sparkling at state: BHS ensemble’s message transcends top awards

Cast members of Burlington High School’s “The Laramie Project” share a hug before getting on the stage at state last week. (Photo by Jennifer Eisenbart)

As the cast and crew of Burlington’s one-act play “The Laramie Project” came out of the Blue Theater at Waunakee High School Saturday, tears flowed freely, and relieved laughter bubbled to the surface.

As the last person exited the theater, the doorman – responsible for timing the group – called out, “39:10, you’re clear.”

If possible, the combination of tears and laughter increased. The dreaded time issue – forever a concern this fall, as high schools have a limit of 40 minutes to get on stage, perform and get off again – was again avoided.

The BHS cast came home from Waunakee Saturday with three awards – Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Directing and Critics’ Choice. The cast did not receive any individual acting awards, but the likelihood of getting any was diminished because of the ensemble nature of the play.

More than the awards, though, was the reaction of those who saw the play. As evaluator Charles Grover said, “I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” when he came in to review.

He wasn’t the only one, as BHS’s day provided memories for everyone involved.

12:15 p.m.

The cast and crew of the play – along with director Carrie Fidler and BHS guidance counselor Tammy Albrecht – begin to trickle in at Door 17 of Waunakee High School. It’s the designated meeting point, as some cast members have gone to workshops, others are arriving by bus – and still others are coming from getting food.

As everyone arrives, the enthusiasm and excitement level reaches a fever pitch. Everyone is smiling, and there are more than a few laughs and jokes. A handful of students ride on the clothes rack down to the classroom BHS has been assigned for makeup and getting ready, and others walk down, their hands filled with boxes, props and costume changes.

Ironically, one of the main topics of conversation isn’t necessarily the play. It’s “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” which the entire cast went to see together Friday.

Fidler sits at the teacher desk in the room, coloring two last-minute additions to the scenery – two hate signs that will be momentarily visible later so that the effort to hide them by Laramie residents is clear. Fidler is uncomfortable coloring the signs, and makes it clear to everyone that she doesn’t believe in what she is coloring in.

1:00 p.m.

With the cast changed into costumes – which trend mostly to black and red, and at most seem to have one backstage change – Fidler and fellow director Paul Ivkovich call the group together.

“Pep talk!” Junior Becca Otis pipes up. “Last time pep talk!”

In addition, it is time for gifts. Senior Hannah Anderson, along with Ashley Anderson, Tylee Frederick and Michael Mayfield, present flowers and presents – a mug for Ivkovich, and angels for Albrecht and Fidler.

Anderson is sobbing as she leads the gift giving, ending with, “I don’t know where I’ll be next year. I’ll be with you in spirit.”

The emotions roll on from there as everyone realizes the enormity of the moment – that this group is about 40 minutes away from giving its final performance of a play that has come to mean so much to everyone in the cast.

“I love you guys,” explains senior Kellen Caldwell. “You guys are the most wonderful people in our school.”

Landen Brown, who transferred from the Waterford school district after dealing with bullying for many years, relates to his castmates that three of his former schoolmates came to the public performance.

“They apologized,” he explains.

And Frederick adds perspective by relating a text message from a friend.

“You’re not just doing this to win. You’re doing it for the babies. You’re doing this for the future.”

Ivkovich and Fidler then challenge the cast to make this final performance feel like it is their first to a brand-new audience. As they explain, this cast needs to make Laramie “sparkle” – a reference to the final line of the play – with the same passion they have shown for every performance.

“When you walk on that stage today, leave nothing behind,” says Ivkovich.

Then the group huddles, and on the count of three, shouts, “Sparkle!”

1:30 p.m.

The most frustrating thing about being on someone else’s schedule? Delays. The BHS crew left early so they could go in when the play before them finished, but even when the cast goes down, the play before them runs late.

So, the group members are finding themselves with extra time to sit around and think. Or focus. Or talk quietly. Or in the case of some, see family and friends who are waiting to see the play.

When it comes time to get the cast to the entry of the Blue Theater, though, everything is well organized. Fidler quickly reviews subjects like what order the group should enter the theater, and the fact everyone will have to exit stage left – the opposite side of where they are entering.

Once the particulars are in place, though, it’s time for one final huddle. Anderson pulls out a photo – one of Matthew Shepard. It is a final reminder of who they are performing for, and the attitudes the group hopes to change.

2 p.m.

Burlington High School is introduced as performing “The Laramie Project” – and the final performance of this year’s one-act play is underway.

The backstage area in the Blue Theater is beyond tight – perhaps six feet of space on either side. As a result, there is little room for the cast to change in between scenes.

It doesn’t matter. From Caldwell’s opening guitar notes of “Jesus Is On the Wire” to the closing line, the group did exactly as Ivkovich asked of them: they made Laramie “sparkle.”

There is laughter from the audience, but also a somber quiet. When the last line is spoken and Caldwell and Anderson close the show with the last of the song by Peter, Paul and Mary, a standing ovation crashes through the theater.

And when the audience exits the theater, their emotions mix freely with the cast.

“I love it!” says one girl enthusiastically, and the compliment is paid over and over again. Students from Union Grove, Catholic Memorial and other schools come up to congratulate the cast and crew.

As the minutes go by, the cast and crew members eventually start to make their way back to the classroom. There is an air of anxiety now, as the group wants to know that they accomplished what they set out to do – move people toward change. And part of judging that reaction comes in the form of awards.

While Fidler, Ivkovich and Albrecht all spoke before the performance about what the group had managed to accomplish this fall – awards or not – there is still a sense of anticipation that is gratified when Grover walks into the room with at least three plaques for the group.

“To me, there wasn’t a false moment,” he explains to the gathered students, teachers and, now, parents.

He speaks of the cast and crew’s dedication of remaining in the moment and in projecting their passion on to the audience. Clearly, Grover has been moved – and in handing out the awards, his fellow evaluators seem to agree.

And as Grover leaves and the cast and crew start showing off the plaques to one another and gathering – at last – for one final picture, the last line of the play seems to play an important role in the setting.

“The last thing he saw on this earth were the sparkling lights,” said Doc O’Connor in the play, speaking of how Matt Shepard once said Laramie “sparkled.”

In the final moments of a one-play season that has been a success beyond just the awards, it is clear Laramie sparkled for not just Shepard, or its residents, but for 32 men, women and students intent on sharing a message with a ready audience.