By Sahara Lyon

Theater programs have long been a part of schools’ arts education offerings, providing a haven for students everywhere to express their creativity through performance. One school’s theater department in Leon County has gone above and beyond. So far this year, Godby High School’s theater department already has an incredible lineup of competition wins, fantastic shows, and community support. Randi Lundgren, Fine Arts Department Head/Director of Theater Arts at Godby and the 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year for Leon County Schools elaborated on what she and her talented students have been up to, on and offstage.

In the world of high school performing arts, the Florida Thespian Festival is the ultimate stage to display one’s craft. Lundgren has taken her students at Godby to the Florida Thespian District Competition, known as “The THESPYS,” three times in recent years. This year’s THESPYS was held at Chiles High School, making participation accessible to all interested students. Lundgren submitted multiple solo performances and a one-act play that included several students in the Godby Theater Department. Known as the Godby Players, this student thespians group includes stage manager and backstage manager Des Richardson and Abigail Hofmann, respectively, and actors Dashiell Trammel, Taylon Thomas, Tallist Jean, Nathaniel Williams, Llayna Maul and Saniah Maul.

The Godby Players presented a one-act version of Rumpelstiltskin, an original adaptation of the classic fairy tale written by Lundgren. The show featured interactive staging that included audience participation for young viewers. Being Godby’s children’s show for the year, it was toured throughout the county at multiple elementary schools. At the District THESPYS, Godby competed against nine other one-acts, from which they were one of two selected groups to advance to State. When Lundgren entered this show at the THESPYS, she had no idea her students would win a “Superior” ranking, the highest honor given by the Florida State Thespians, and be selected as “Best in Show.” These awards advanced the Godby Players to the next level, and they will represent District 1 on the State level at the Florida State Thespian Festival.

While Lundgren and her students were ecstatic to have this long-awaited chance to compete at the State level, the competition came with a hefty price tag – a four-night festival stay in Tampa and high registration costs. So Lundgren and her students got to work. In January 2024, the Godby theater students applied for grants and planned ways to fundraise. One month later, the Godby Theater Arts Program has fundraised over $19,000 due to the students’ hard work and dedication!

This incredible success results from the theater students’ focus, hard work, and dedication. Lundgren and student Andre Williams applied for a Foundation for Leon County Schools Resiliency Grant to cover travel costs, which they were awarded. Another student, Saniah Maul, took it upon herself to get the word out about Godby’s fundraising. She contacted the Tallahassee Democrat, sharing the school’s story with reporters. After the story’s publication, hundreds of inquiries asking where to donate started pouring in. Lundgren stated, “It’s been insane, the support that the community, that alumni, that family of alumni or people who are in the show, have poured into these kids.” Donations are still coming in, allowing Lundgren to cover travel and registration costs for this year and create a reserve fund for future competitions. Lundgren elaborated, “The best thing about it is that these kids… are seeing how many people are willing to back them in this journey.”

  While Lundgren and her students have been to Districts before, this is their first trip to the State competition. The Godby Players will perform in Tampa from March 13^th to the 16^th, proudly representing Leon County and Godby at the Florida State Thespian Festival. As students are rehearsing for their Tampa performances, most are preparing for their spring musical premiere of Shrek, which runs April 19^th and 20^th at 7 pm and April 21^st at 3 pm. Tickets are on sale and available on BookTix. Most of the students featured onstage and off are juniors, sophomores, and first-year students, so watch out for these talented students in future shows and competitions at Godby. When asked about the importance of arts education, Lundgren stated, “Arts education teaches all of the subjects in different ways.” She continued, “It’s a different way to look at the world and yourself through introspection. It’s a lens to look at the world through and to look at yourself through.” We join the community in support, hoping they “break a leg” during the State competition, their spring musical, and beyond.