Student actors, writers and directors from Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS) will take their original one-act play to the National Theatre School (NTS) DramaFest South Regional Showcase in Hamilton after winning Best Original Production at the Niagara Region district festival held February 23 to 26 in Fort Erie.
‘High School Is Killing Me’ originally debuted at Greater Fort Erie Secondary School with performances on February 11 (pictured here) and 12, 2026. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie Radio
The all-original play ‘High School Is Killing Me,’ written and directed by Grade 12 students Gabrielle Cudmore and Morgan Young, placed GFESS among the two productions advancing to regionals scheduled the week of April 20 at Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton.
NTS DramaFest district festivals act as the entry point to regional events across the province involving thousands of secondary school students across Ontario, with top productions later advancing to a provincial showcase.
Seven Niagara Region secondary schools competed during the four-day district festival hosted by GFESS. Performances ran across three evenings, followed by an awards ceremony on the fourth night.
The festival featured one adjudicator, retired teacher Vince Marinaccio, a director and Vice-President of the Garrison Little Theatre company. Marinaccio reviewed scripts and artistic statements in advance, attended technical rehearsals during the day and watched each public performance before selecting award recipients.
Drama teacher and fine arts program lead Samantha Caldwell told Fort Erie Radio the Best Original Production award secured the school’s place at the next stage of competition.
“To be one of two schools to receive the original production award, that is a big accomplishment for us,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell described the win as a milestone for the school’s theatre program, noting that it has been several years since the program last secured the award.
‘High School Is Killing Me’ also won the Press Theatre Award for Best New Play. The production received the NTS Adjudicator Award for Outstanding Director for Cudmore and Young. Acting awards included an Award of Excellence for Gage Allan and Addie Letkemann and an NTS Award for Merit for Liam Barszcz.
Cudmore and Young first developed the play concept in Grade 10 and continued writing through the summer before auditions and rehearsals began in the fall.
The story follows a student narrator who’s believed to have died and observes classmates navigating a class president election and social conflicts. Student crews also built the set pieces and assembled costumes, many sourced through thrift stores and classroom projects.
“I think it’s the arts that matter. We need to continue to promote the arts, and through this festival, we’re able to bring life to student actors, student directors, student writers, student set designs, so for them to be able to do all this and put this together is a wonderful thing,” said Caldwell.
Regional competition will bring schools from across southern Ontario together for the next stage of DramaFest, with the possibility of advancing to the Ontario provincial showcase. Transportation and equipment logistics remain an immediate concern for the program as preparations continue over the coming weeks.
“There will be some obstacles. We have to figure out busing and also just the rental of the U-Haul, so we can carry our setup there,” said Caldwell.
Rehearsals will continue through March and early April as students prepare the production for the regional stage, with a focus on performance quality.
“I’m not pushing them to make provincials. If they make provincials, it’d be like the icing on the cake, but right now our overall goal is to rehearse, go have fun, and do our absolute very best,” said Caldwell.
Andrew Hawlitzky
March 4, 2026 at 4:31 AM
Original Article