Lowry, Pate shine in Trumbauer district theater, advance to state competition

Two students from Covington County Schools received superior ratings at the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s Walter Trumbauer High School Theatre Festival at Murphy High School in Mobile on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Pleasant Home School senior Era Grace Lowry and Straughn High School senior Christian Pate competed in three categories at the district competition: Acting – Dramatic, Musical – Comedic, and Duet Acting Dramatic.

The two seniors agreed the experience was both beneficial and worthwhile toward their futures.

“Competing at the festival for me meant I was accomplishing goals I had set for myself many years ago. Not only was I getting more involved in theater, but I was also getting more experience in performing and auditioning. It meant I was taking steps in pursuing it professionally,” Lowry said.

“Competing at the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s District Trumbauer Festival was an experience like no other. It meant being a small part of the future of the fine arts and meeting other students like me,” Pate said.

The Walter Trumbauer Festival has provided quality training and performance opportunities for Alabama theatre students at the high school level since 1940. The festival consists of 30 individual events, a one-act play festival, and a studio theatre one-act play festival for students in ninth through twelfth grade.

Students qualify for the state competition by earning a rating of “superior” at one of seven district festivals statewide. Students receive critiques from qualified teachers, professionals and theatre practitioners at all levels of competition, allowing them to improve their theatrical skills.

“I learned to trust in myself more. I used to be very nervous when going to auditions, and now it’s just muscle memory. I learned that if I make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. If you just laugh it off, others around you will, too,” Lowry said.

“While at Trumbauer, I learned not only how to perform but how to make use of what you have. Being thrown on to some random high school’s campus and searching for a small audition room is not for the weak,” Pate said.

Lowry and Pate now turn their attention to the state tournament that will be held at the University of North Alabama in Florence on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7.

“I hope to gain more confidence in my abilities. The more auditions I do, the more feedback I get and the more I can better myself and become better at what I do,” she said.

“I hope by competing in the state festival in December, I can gain more experience from performing against other skilled thespians,” he said.

Lowry first started performing when she was 14 years old in the ninth grade.

“I’ve always loved stories and storytelling. Being able to take a story and bring it to life on stage for other people to not only hear but see was very special,” Lowry said.

Pate began performing at an earlier age when he joined the Straughn Middle School Drama Club.

“Mrs. Stacy McLaurin, an eighth grade science teacher, showed me that theatre was this grand outlet to express myself. The performing arts have always interested me for no specific reason. I guess it is because I find the transformation into a completely different person insanely fascinating,” Pate said.

Both have plans to continue their education after graduation from PHS and SHS in the spring.

“After I graduate, I plan to go to college and get a degree in Criminology with a minor in Chemistry. I never want to quit theater and will definitely try to pursue it professionally, but I understand it is a hard industry to get into, and I also have other passions. I would also like to create a few stories of my own and turn them not only into books but plays as well,” Lowry said.

“After graduation, I plan on attending Troy University to obtain my bachelor’s degree. Being a senior in high school, I’m still unsure of my future, but I hope to major in Music or Chemistry,” Pate said.

Era Grace is the daughter of Gail Lowry with a brother, Neil Lowry. Christian is the son of Dorri Pate with a sister, Makaela Pate.