LLCA students win six theatre awards at NC Conference

The Theatre Department at Lake Lure Classical Academy is celebrating after being honored at the Watauga High School regional site of the 2025 North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival (NCTC) on October 31 and November 1.

Awards are given for acting, design, technical craft, ensemble work, and festival spirit.

Under the direction of Layne Long, one of our founding school members, students presented an adaptation of the Greek Classical play Antigone by Bonnie Roberts and brought home the following NCTC awards:

• Excellence in Set Design, Nina Leighty (senior)

• Outstanding achievement in Costuming, Leah Leighty (junior)

• Excellence in Ensemble Acting, the cast of Antigone

• Festival Spirit award, the cast of Antigone

• Excellence in Directing, Mrs. Layne Long

• Judge's Choice, Honorable Mention, alternates for the state competition (3rd year in a row)

• Superior rating

Students who attend Lake Lure Classical Academy, and who are members of the school's theatre program, live in Rutherford, Polk, and Henderson counties.

Participating schools travel to regional festival sites with theatrical sets, costumes, and props. Each show loads into a 10'x10' backstage area. When their time comes, each school group has 45 minutes to set up, perform, and then clear the stage. Following the performance, students receive feedback from adjudicators whose expertise ranges from children's theatre companies to college professors.

"I am so proud of the cast and crew of Antigone", said Mrs. Long. "The ensemble consists of juniors and seniors who have been working together for the past five years and with their level of skill and talent, I hoped to challenge them to create something great. I was extremely impressed with their dedication to the craft and the ownership they took of the piece. Not only were they a true ensemble, the attention paid to the costumes, props, and set by the students were something you would see in a professional performance."

For over 30 years, the NCTC High School Play Festival has strengthened arts education in schools by bringing the curriculum to life, challenging students to do their very best work, and contributing to the development of future audiences for live performing arts.