Kewanee High School’s Group Interpretation team is celebrating a major achievement after securing the sectional championship with their performance of Between the Lines. This victory earns them a coveted spot at the Illinois High School Association State Finals, where they’ll compete at Reavis High School on March 27th at 2 PM for the preliminary competition. Every cast member received all-sectional recognition, highlighting standout performances from Aloria Button, Dalton Swearingen, and others under student director Kailey Shaw’s leadership. In Group Interpretation, students rely solely on shared set pieces and their storytelling skills, emphasizing collaboration and imagination. The Kewanee community proudly celebrates this milestone and eagerly anticipates the team’s state-level performance.
“This accomplishment speaks to the incredible talent and dedication of our students and director Heather Olalde,” said Superintendent Rebecca Baney. “We are extremely proud the team’s hard work and dedication to this craft. Students must bring their best to interpret and portray multiple characters, the physical setting, and the mood of the story. Their work is art in its highest form.”
Kewanee Community Unit School District 229 is celebrating an outstanding achievement by its talented students in the IHSA Group Interpretation contest. Team members Aloria Button, Dalton Swearingen, Marcos Torres, Karina Wims, Abigail Wyant, Azucena Paredes, Alex Barron, Camila Herrera Soto, Da’Mya Brown, Caleb Wyant, and Annie Campbell, supported by student director Kailey Shaw, impressed at the sectional and state levels. Their performance of “Between the Lines” stood out for its exceptional storytelling and ensemble work. Using only standardized set pieces, the group demonstrated creativity and teamwork, turning simple materials into a powerful, emotional onstage experience.
Unlike conventional stage productions, Group Interpretation relies on vocal expression, movement, and sharp team coordination instead of costumes and scenery. Teams work meticulously to craft stories with nothing but their voices and the power of group dynamics. This innovative approach not only sharpens dramatic skills but also highlights the importance of collaboration. With regional competitions underway, anticipation is building as schools prepare to showcase their creativity and storytelling excellence on the state stage.
Prelim A – Reavis High School Library
9:00 a.m. – Moon Man Walk (Chicago Heights – Marian) | Homeroom: Room 243
9:45 a.m. – Something Rotten (Stanford – Olympia) | Homeroom: Room 244
10:30 a.m. – Eulogy (Oak Lawn – Richards) | Homeroom: Room 245
11:15 a.m. – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Grayslake – Central) | Homeroom: Room 246
12:00 p.m. – The Midnight Library (Rockford – East) | Homeroom: Room 250
1:15 p.m. – The Witches (Richton Park – Southland College Prep Charter) | Homeroom: Room 243
2:00 p.m. – Theater Camp (Bensenville – Fenton) | Homeroom: Room 244
2:45 p.m. – IF (Darien – Hinsdale South) | Homeroom: Room 245
3:30 p.m. – Bullets Over Broadway (Burbank – Reavis) | Homeroom: Room 246
Prelim B – Reavis High School Field House Upper Level
9:00 a.m. – I Sing the Body Electric (Oak Lawn – Community) | Homeroom: Room 167
9:45 a.m. – Little Shop of Horrors (Joliet – West) | Homeroom: Room 169
10:30 a.m. – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Wheaton – W. Warrenville South) | Homeroom: Room 170
11:15 a.m. – The Hello Girls (Mundelein H.S.) | Homeroom: Room 171
12:00 p.m. – Rage Becomes Us (Flossmoor – Homewood-F.) | Homeroom: Room 172
1:15 p.m. – Everybody’s Fine (Dunlap) | Homeroom: Room 174
2:00 p.m. – Between the Lines (Kewanee H.S.) | Homeroom: Room 167
2:45 p.m. – Peter and the Starcatcher (Sterling H.S.) | Homeroom: Room 169
3:30 p.m. – Monday’s Not Coming (South Holland – Thornwood) | Homeroom: Room 170