‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is big comedic hit!
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The 2026 Chester High School play was a huge hit and had audience members laughing all the way home. This years’ play was titled, “The Play That Goes Wrong”. At the annual CHS Spring Concert Theatre Director Steve Colonel presented Theatre Awards for cast members and crew that earned recognition.
The first set of awards that were presented were “Outstanding Characterization” awards. Mr. Colonel said, “This show had a fairly small cast and all cast members had very funny roles. This cast had the unusual task of “playing a character” that was already “playing another character” within a play. The following five students went above and beyond in the development of their characters!”
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERIZATION AWARDS
The five “Outstanding Characterization Awards” were presented to the following cast members:
Jason Sibley: The role of Chris who played the Inspector.
Megan Zimmer: The role of Annie, the Stage Manager who eventually became Florence #2.
Alyssa Stehl: The role of Sandra who played Florence Colleymore.
Natalie Guethle: The role of Rachel who played Florence’s sister, Mary Colleymore.
Kendall Nanney: The role of Perkins.
FOUR-YEAR THEATRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS
The second set of awards were for three students who had the distinction of being 4-year members of the Theatre Department. Mr. Colonel said, “These students started their theatre careers with Miss Hodge their freshman year. They continued to work hard on various shows throughout their high school careers.” The following three students include:
Liam Holland
Jason Sibley
Elizabeth Wilson
DIRECTOR’S AWRDS for COMMITMENT and DEDICATION
The last set of Theatre Awards were to honor three students who demonstrated Commitment and Dedication. These awards were titled, Director’s Awards. The winners of these awards included: Karim Landeros, Bently Valleroy, and Elizabeth Wilson.
Karim Landeros. Mr. Colonel said, “Karim completely shocked me when he auditioned for the show. This as outside of his usual wheelhouse. He had a fantastic audition and brought a different kind of energy to every rehearsal. He brought credibility to the show. I watched him change, grow and mature and I think he found a new experience that I think he loved! I will always be profoundly grateful to him.”
Bently Valleroy. Theatre Director, Steve Colonel said, “Bently missed the auditions because he thought the auditions were a week later than they actually were. He was disappointed, but handled it like a champ. He told me he would try to help out any way he could.”
Then, an original cast member decided that theatre was not for him, and he decided to quit. That left us with a gaping hole in our cast. I then auditioned other potential people to fill the hole, but none worked out. I then went back to Bently to see if he was interested. After a few days, he came back to me and accepted the role.”
“Bently learned the entire show in just a couple of weeks. He ended up with some of the funniest material in the show. For his commitment and dedication, Bently is the winner of the second Director’s Award.”
Elizabeth Wilson (Student Director). The final Director’s Award was earned by Elizabeth Wilson. Mr. Colonel said, “My final Director’s Award goes to someone I truly think might be lost without her time in the theatre department. She has been by my side for all three of the shows I have directed.”
“She has had many roles over the years, but this year I let her have much more control of the show. These shows have always belonged to the students, and I let the cast and crew make many of the decisions that drove the shows forward. I honestly think that this year’s show was more hers than it was mine, and that is wonderful.”
“The final Director’s Award for Commitment and Dedication goes to my right hand man…, or I mean woman, …my Student Director, Miss Elizabeth Wilson.”
The following Chester High School Theatre students earned “Outstanding Characterization Awards” for the CHS production of “The Play That Goes Wrong”. (Left to right) are Jason Sibley (Chris the Inspector), Alyssa Stehl (Sandra-Florence Colleymore), Megan Zimmer (Annie-Florence #2), Natalie Guethle (Rachel\Mary Colleymore), and Kendall NBanney (Perkins). Jim Beers Photo
The following CHS Theatre students earned a 4-Year Theatre Award for being involved in the CHS Theatre Program for all four of their years at CHS. (Left to right) are Liam Holland, Jason Sibley, and Elizabeth Wilson. Jim Beers Photo
The following Chester High School Theatre students earned “Director’s Awards” for their Dedication and Commitment to the CHS Theatre Program and this years’ production of, “The Play That Goes Wrong.” (left to right) Karim Landeros, Elizabeth Wilson, Bently Valleroy. Jim Beers Photo