VHSPAs 2019

By Cale Feliz

On Sunday, May 19th, the Visalia High School Performing Arts Awards were held at the LJ Williams Theatre. The accolades were accommodated to talented individuals hailing from Redwood, Mount Whitney, El Diamanté, and Golden West for outstanding performances and roles in productions throughout the course of the year.

Kylen Gray, ‘22, was awarded Rookie of the Year for his performance in the Redwood musical production Once Upon a Mattress. He expressed “Honestly it feels really great. It just felt amazing, it was awesome.” Gray further stated “It feels pretty awesome to win an award. It was really fun working with Brooke O’Leary and I think she equally deserves it as well. [The rookies] all did.” Gray also believed this was indeed was a milestone in his performing arts career.

Jenna Agredano, 20, was nominated Outstanding Female for her performance in the Redwood Fall Play production It’s a Wonderful Life. She did believe it was a milestone for her this year. Agredano also noted, considering she had performed in musical last year, “it was a pretty big step. I’m really proud of myself.” In terms of her plans to pursue this kind of trade in the future, she remarked, “I hope to go into either being a theater teacher or going into technical theater.

Erin Olson, ‘20, was also nominated for Outstanding Female in the Redwood Fall Play. In retrospective of her performing arts career, she said, “I feel very proud of myself for being able to put something on stage that I probably wouldn’t put onstage otherwise… I have come a long way, from starting out when I was in middle school I was very shy and nervous, and then coming out in playing Uncle Billy in the Fall Play, I have put so much onstage nowadays.” As a milestone for her this year, Olson said “Most definitely. I was honestly not expecting it, and I’m really proud of myself for being nominated.” Olson further stated that, having been nominated for the award, “I feel I could do something great and go farther.”

Megan James, ‘19, was given the Director’s Award. In retrospective to her previous performances, she said “I feel like I’ve come a very long way.” James further stated, “I feel like I’ve worked really hard and so It’s nice to be recognized.” In concern of performing arts in her future, Megan said, “I won’t be as serious about it.”

As you can see, Redwood shines on the stage as a group and individually, make Redwood’s productions better and better every year!