Triton makes it to sectionals, but not state, with their one-act play

Triton High School’s one-act play made it all the way to sectionals on Feb. 1, but didn’t advance to state.

“We did not place in the top three,” said director Karen Kleinwort. “But it’s the first time Triton has advanced in five years so it was exciting to advance to get to sectionals.”

The play was “Silenced on Barbour Street” by William Prenetta. It was a drama about a July 6, 1944, fire, which roared across the top of a 48-foot high tent during the matinee performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The fire claimed the lives of 144 spectators. In this ensemble driven drama, 15 victims of the tragedy must face their guilt and deepest fears in order to escape from the ringmaster, who has trapped them in a mysterious circus purgatory.

Triton took first place on Jan. 25 in subsections at Triton High School. Then they went on to sections on Feb. 1 at Kasson-Mantorville High School.

There were 21 cast and crew members in “Silenced.” They were from grades 9 through 12.

“I had a lot of people where this was their first experience so it was really exciting to see them grow and try something new,” Kleinwort said. “And then I had a few people who this was their second or third time so not a lot of experience.”

“They worked really, really hard,” she said. “We had a few different setbacks where they were able to rally with sickness or people being gone. They still were able to be successful and advance to sections. I’m really, really proud of them.”