Hockinson High School theater troupe earns excellence award at competition

Hockinson — The Hockinson High School Theatre Co. brought home its first performance trophy recently, earning the Excellence in Performance award at the Washington State Thespian Festival. The cast performed Act 1 of Neil Simon’s “Rumors” and received “superior” scores in the categories of acting transitions, characterization, movement/staging and execution. The HHS troupe was one of 67 high schools to travel to Ellensburg for the competition earlier this month. “My philosophy of theater and acting is that we don’t do it for the applause or the awards, but we do it for the skills and character it builds and the lifetime of memories it creates,” Greg Saum, adviser and teacher for the troupe, said in a release from the district. They will perform “Rumors” at 7 p.m. on May 9 and 10 and at 1 and 7 p.m. on May 11.