Two local high school student performers’ stars are on the rise.

Thomas County Central High School students Stephen Sykes and Emily Brooks were named to the Region 1 AAAAA All Star Cast for their performances in the Georgia High School Association Region 1 AAAAA One Act Competition. The event was held Thursday, Oct. 26 at Harris County High School in Hamilton.

“I feel highly honored because there were so many amazing actors and actresses attending one act,” sophomore Stephen Sykes, 16, said. “To find that the judges saw me as one of the top is unbelievable.”

TCCHS Drama Department performed “Almost Maine,” which consisted of several 10 minute scenes exploring the themes of love and loss in a small Maine town on a January Friday night.

“I feel that the students did amazing,” TCCHS Drama teacher Gabrielle McMullen praises. “I am so proud of the production that we put together. The students put together such a great show within one month and are so dedicated.”

The Region 1 AAAAA All Star Cast is comprised of students whose performances stood out to the judges during each individual show.

“I always explain it to my students as something that is an honor to be selected for and means that their character stood out to the judges as a character that the actor(s) portrayed believably enough to be ‘real’ to the judges,” McMullen said. 

McMullen describes both Brooks and Sykes as “talented, driven, dedicated and wonderful.”

Brooks played Sandrine in the scene “Sad & Glad” and Gayle in “Getting It Back;” Sykes portrayed East in “Her Heart” and Lendall in “Getting It Back.”

Sykes said his favorite role from the production is Lendall because “I feel he gets to be very confused, sassy and sorry at the same time.”

“He is a very loving character, and it is fun to play him as his stage partner Gayle is going off on a tangent,” he said.

Gayle was Brooks’ favorite character to take on in this show and the senior said she had a lot of fun with the role.

“She was different from the characters I’ve played in the past, and it was just a really fun part to play,” she said.

Brooks, 17, feels portraying two different characters with two unique stories is what helped her stand out to the judges.

“I like being on stage because I’ve always been pretty shy and quiet around people, but I don’t feel like that when I am on stage,” she said of performing. “I feel confident and happy with what I’m doing.”

Sykes said people told him after the show that he had “great expressions” and “spoke clearly.” He enjoys performance because it is an escape from life’s stresses. He loves to entertain others and to possibly be a bright spot in a person’s day.

There are no extra events or competitions attached to being named a Region 1 AAAAA All Star Cast member, but it is an honor recognized student performers can add to their theatre resume.

“I feel really honored and excited about it because I really love theatre and being able to have the opportunity to act,” Brooks said of her selection to the cast. “It just proved that I could do it.”