As part of GermanFest, Anderson’s 2022 International Festival, drama students from Belton-Honea Path High School were invited by the Belton Area Museum Association to perform for the local community.
In keeping with the German theme, students performed fairytales from the Grimm Brothers, including Jack & The Beanstalk, Rumpelstiltskin and Godfather Death.
“The students all worked on these in class, they combined into groups, and they rewrote the stories to make mini plays out of them,” explained BHP High Drama Director Alysha Sudduth. “It has been very heavily student written and student directed.”
Sudduth said she would like to see the community performances become a tradition for the school.
“My main goal as a theater director is to have the community more involved with the students, to see their skills and their talent, and to really see what these students dedicate their time to because they don’t get enough recognition for the work and the blood, sweat and tears that they put into it,” Sudduth said.
BHP student Hatcher Adams, who played Jack in Jack & The Beanstalk said he recommends theater for students looking to try something new.
“Theater is a really good thing to get into,” Adams said. “It’ll help you a lot and it’s very fun.”
The German Fairy Tales presentation was part of GermanFest, a three-month countywide celebration presented by Anderson Area Sister Cities.
“This year when Sister Cities decided to present the festival, we thought about what we need to emphasize in Anderson,” said Carol Burdette of Anderson Area Sister Cities Association. “There is a lot of German investment in Anderson County and the Upstate, so we landed on Germany.”
GermanFest wraps up on March 24. Remaining events are:
March 15, 2 -3:30 p.m., Anderson University Professional & Lifelong Learning
Lecture: Life and Times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, by Dr. Richard Burnett. As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and author.
March 24, 6:30 p.m., Night for the Museum, Belton Area Museum Association
Come support the Belton Area Museum Association in their biennial fundraiser. The night will include a silent and live auction and a delicious assortment of German food and beer.
Video courtesy of Anderson County Media Department.
