Sanderson High School Theatre Boosters, Inc.

The Sanderson High School Theatre Ensemble's production of ERNEST AND THE PALE MOON has been named Distinguished Play at the State North Carolina Theatre Conference and will represent all of North Carolina in the largest high school play festival in the country, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, February 26th-March 1st in Louisville, Kentucky. The NCTC High School Play Festival started with 8 Regional sites all across the state and ~128 plays and now for back to back years and the 3rd time in 5 years, Sanderson Theatre was chosen as one of the two best to represent the state.

The play is called ERNEST AND THE PALE MOON, a haunting tale of obsession and murder. The play brings you into the disturbed mind of Ernest Hemel as he becomes obsessed with a beautiful young woman he has never met. Once we get into his mind, we are never quite sure what is real and what is not as the story keeps you guessing until the very end. At the Regional Festival, the play won the following honors: Superior Rating, Excellence in Design and Production (Lighting Design) Samuel Owens, Outstanding Achievement in Design and Production (Technical Director and Production Design) Kiara Cooper, Excellence in Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Acting and Distinguished Play. At the State Festival we performed with all the other Distinguished Play winners from around the state and won the following honors: Excellence in Design and Production (Technical Director and Production Design) Kiara Cooper, Outstanding Achievement in Design and Production (Light Design) Samuel Owens, Excellence in Acting awards for Lissa Pope, Ethan Page and Camden Trimmer, Excellence in Direction and Distinguished Play.

30 acting and technical students have worked incredibly hard since the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year and now get to show off their talents, and work and dedication at the highest level. Not only do they get to perform and get feedback from professional judges but they get to see the best that high school theatre has to offer, connect with theatre students from all over the Southeast, participate in college auditions and workshops from some of the best schools and theatre artists from across the country. 

While it is an honor to be selected, it also comes with a tremendous financial burden. In addition to registering the 30 students, 2 teachers and chaperones for the event, we will also have 4 days of travel, hotel and food expenses as well as transporting our set from Raleigh to Louisville. Last year we spent almost $25,000 on our trip to Knoxville. So we need your help! Please consider giving anything you can to help us get to Louisville. Every donation is huge in helping these students have an experience of a lifetime!