BW Little Theatre Presents Bach at Leipzing on Wednesday, March 21.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of BACH AT LEIPZIG, which was named the SECTIONAL CHAMPION IN DRAMA at Saturday's competition in Charleston. Special recognition goes to Chris Brammer, Tom Felts, Lucas Schmidt, Jordan Shavarebi, and Ben Watts, who were selected to the prestigious all-sectional drama cast.

Congratulations to the cast of BOBBY WILSON CAN EAT HIS OWN FACE, which was named the SECTIONAL CHAMPION IN GROUP INTERPRETATION at Saturday's competition in Charleston. Special recognition goes to Derrick Cooper, Tom Felts, Lucas Schmidt, Monica Simonin, Victoria Thompson, Ben Watts, and Kara Weisenstein, who were selected to the prestigious all-sectional group interpretation cast.

Both performances now advance to the STATE TOURNAMENT this weekend in Springfield. Celebrate their accomplishments-and send them off to state with your applause-at a special performance of both shows this Wednesday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. --Ms. Bielong, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Lodle

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        The Belleville West Little Theatre will present the annual contest drama on Thursday, March 15.  This year’s offering is Bach at Leipzig, a witty new comedy by Itamar Moses.         Set in Leipzig, Germany, in 1722, the play opens with the death of Johann Kuhnau, revered organist of the Thomaskirche.  (Kuhnau, in fact, expires while he is playing the organ, his face crashing on the keyboard and creating a horrible final chord.)  To fill the position, the city council invites a small number of musicians—who all happen to have the first name of either Johann or Georg—to audition for the post of organist at the St. Thomas Church.         

        The musicians include a former student of Kuhnau (junior Lucas Schmidt), a rival from the other side of Leipzig (junior Chris Brammer), a gambler who hopes to win fame and fortune in Leipzig (senior Jordan Shavarebi), a ladies' man (senior Thomas Felts), a slow-witted rube (freshman Adam Meirink), an organist with a serious inferiority complex (junior Ben Watts), and—of course—Johann Sebastian Bach.          Working from actual events, Moses creates a smart and comic tale of how these musicians will stop at nothing—including bribery, blackmail, and betrayal—to win the coveted position.          

         The contest play offers a unique opportunity for drama students.  The play must be performed within a 40 minute time period, and student technicians have 20 minutes to set and clear the stage for performance.  Bach at Leipzig will compete against other area schools to win a berth in the IHSA state tournament.  This year’s sectional competition will be hosted at Charleston High School on Friday and Saturday, March 16 and 17.        

          The production is directed by Ms. Laurie Bielong and Mr. John Lodle.  Student directors are seniors Lauren Acker, Kate Eckert, Jeff Krampf, Kim Schuetz, and sophomore D. J. Rockwell.         

          The March 15 performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Belleville West Performing Arts Center, located at 4063 Frank Scott Parkway West.  Tickets are $2 for students and $4 for adults.