W St r D mag S k FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED & INSURED (WORKMAN’S COMP) Rising Stars: The Electric New Era of Fauquier High School Theatre Move over, Broadway! There’s a new powerhouse in town, and they aren’t wearing tuxedos—they’re wearing Falcon red. The Fauquier High Sc hool (FHS) T h e a t r e Depar tment has officially entered its Golden Era. The young thespians and their new t e a c h e r, A p r i l Poland, an FHS The cast, crew, and director of The Price graduate with an impressive resume of theatre experience, recently took home c o m p e t i t i o n s t o d e l i v e r a s t a t e championship performance.” VHSL gold for the first time. For years, the FHS theatre department was a beloved local staple, but the state level remained an elusive dream. In fact, FHS had never even competed at the VHSL state level in theatre, but that all changed last fall. Having served as a VHSL judge for a decade, Ms. Poland brought a unique perspective to the table. This year, finding herself on the other side of the competition, her deep understanding of what judges expect allowed her to guide her team through regional and super-regional competitions with their hauntingly beautiful production of The Price. The choice of this one-act play was deliberate. Ms. Poland had first seen it while serving as a judge and found herself reimagining how she would bring its dark, complex themes to life. She admits it’s a tough piece, and getting students on board with its somber tone was a challenge. However, as the team continued to find success, the students realized they didn’t always have to be “fun” to be effective; they discovered that serious ensemble work can be deeply appreciated. She explains that ensemble theatre means everyone inhabiting the same “world” that the script invites them into. “It requires a generous community where actors are willing to give themselves over entirely to the story,” Ms. Poland says. On December 7, 2025, the team traveled to t h e V. E a r l D i c k i n s o n T h e a t r e i n Charlottesville for the VHSL Class 3 State Championship. Not only did they belong on that stage, they dominated it, walking away as State Champions. “The dedication and talent of our students were on full display,” says FHS principal Dr. David Ferguson. “It was clear that the Falcons took the feedback from previous To advertise: We’re Here to Help! • • • • • Finest Quality & Service 44 Years Experience Licensed & Insured Family Owned & Operated Major Credit Cards Accepted • • • • • • Crowning and Trimming Firewood (Order Now!) Tree Removal and Lot Cleaning Stump Grinding Spraying and Feeding Landscaping and Mulch 20% OFF WITH THIS AD TOMMY’S TREE SERVICE NOW THROUGH 2/28/26 (cell) 540-729-5926 (office) 703-303-9157 Culpeper, Virginia www.tommyfraziertreeservice.net Call Tom m y! NOBODY’S PERFECT If you nd yourself at the mercy of the Criminal Justice System, choose your best defense. The Price featured a versatile cast and crew that functioned as a seamless unit. While senior Kairi Esposito remained centered as the character of Mother and senior TJ Boykin focused primarily on his chilling portrayal of Death, the rest of the ensemble played a variety of par ts, switching roles on a dime to build the play’s atmosphere. This dedicated group included freshmen Kira Merryman, Raelyn Jackson, and Yoshi Hara; sophomores Anthony Simpson and Sam Boykin; juniors Niko Reutzel and Pierce Shaw; and seniors Annie Gentry and Landon Thomas. Crew members included senior Maggie Lang, stage manager/assistant costumer, as well as sisters Lorelei and Arabella Pointer (both juniors), who served as assistant stage managers. Together, they worked to create a cohesive, immersive world that captivated the judges. And the accolades didn’t stop at the team trophy. Kairi Esposito’s powerhouse performance in the lead role led to her being presented with the Best Actor award at both the regional and state levels. If you think the department is resting on its laurels after this historic Cinderella story, think again. The adrenaline from the state win is being channeled directly into their next big venture, which Ms. Poland hopes will be Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Wo o ds. It ’s a noto r i ously dif f ic ult production, but given their recent track record, “difficult” seems to be exactly how this crew likes it. Mark your calendars for the performances running from April 30 through May 3 in the Addison E. Lightfoot auditorium at FHS. Ms. Poland and her talented ensemble of Falcons are just getting star ted, and if the state championship was the opening act, you won’t want to miss the finale. ~ Nancy Griffin-Bonnaire www.discoverypubs.com Mark B. Williams M B. W A , 27 Culpeper Street • Warrenton, VA 540.347.6595 • www.mbwalaw.com 20 Discover Fauquier ■ February 2026 540-349-8060