Hang another banner on the wall

NORFOLK – It was a rocking good time when Hartington-Newcastle students presented a prehistoric performance to bring home their second straight state one-act championship.

Hartington-Newcastle defended its Class C2 title Dec. 8 in the Nebraska School Activities Association State Play Production Championships at the Johnny Carson Theatre.

A.J. Johnson, Hartington-Newcastle's longtime one-act coach, was pleased with his students' final performance of 'Ug, the Caveman Musical' of the 2022 season.

'I was just really proud of how the kids performed,' he said. 'It was by far the best performance of the year.

'They did everything we talked about doing beforehand, and they just completely nailed their performance,' he said.

Johnson noted Hartington-Newcastle's play production students had the audience laughing during their whole performance at the state contest.

'We put in an entirely new ending for our show, which the kids just performed so well and the audience loved,' he said.

'As a coach, it makes you proud to see your kids give it their best when it counts, no matter the outcome,' he said.

In addition to the state championship, Hartington-Newcastle came away with several outstanding performance awards from the competition.

The Hartington-Newcastle High School students who were individually recognized were: -Seniors: Turner Dendinger, Lane Heimes, Carsen Hopping and Alivia Morten.

-Junior: Mani Lange. -Sophomore: Cole Heimes. Lane Heimes also was named Class C2's 'Outstanding Male Performer' at the state competition.

He played the role of Ug in Hartington- Newcastle's comedic one-act production, the leader of a group of cavemen who invent the first play ever.

'I was so happy for him,' Johnson said of Lane Heimes. 'He was very deserving not just in his performance, but in how hard he works and the example he sets in practice and school every day.'

Morten, who played the role of Bandala in Hartington-Newcastle's play production, highlighted the happiness she felt after the state contest.

'I was very glad I could end my senior year with a win and very pleased with how we performed,' she said.

Morten expressed how enthused she was with Hartington-Newcastle's one-act season overall.

'I thought this season was great,' she said. 'We all worked together, and every practice we were there to get better and we were always prepared with whatever it takes to get better, and we always helped each other get better – not just the team as a whole, but individually.'

Morten reflected on the fact that her time in play production at Hartington-Newcastle has come to an end.

'I am very thankful for these past four years and having the opportunity to win three state championships and very thankful for our three coaches for leading us to these and always being there and pushing us to get better,' she said.

HNS has now qualified 15 times for the state one-act contest and has won 10 state titles, including five in a row. No state competition was held in 2020. For this year's Class C2 state championship, Hartington-Newcastle finished on top ahead of Stanton, Elmwood- Murdock, Ravenna, McCool Junction and Hemingford. Johnson said he worked with the cast and crew all week to tweak the production prior to the state performance.

“We spent the week working on an ending with a bang, not overdoing some parts of the play and creating better comic timing,” he said.

“Those were our big goals for the week and we hit all three of them,” he said. “It was very satisfying to watch them go out and attack their performance and play to win.”

Johnson noted Hartington-Newcastle’s one-act students “worked so hard each and every practice.”

“That is what I’m most proud of,” he said. “They sought out to be the best they could be each and every time we practiced, and that made me most proud.”

Johnson especially gave credit to Hartington-Newcastle’s seniors.

“I’m just so proud of the kids for going out there and performing their best and grateful for our seniors for all of the work they have put in for so many years and for their leadership this year,” he said.