Award winners, Toby Nelson and Olivia Jung
Frank Marino’s theater arts class will compete at the state level this coming Monday as they perform "All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten" in the one-act play competition at the University of Virginia.

The acting trouped earned its way to the state finals by coming in second in both the district and regional competitions. The winning play in both earlier competitions was "A 1,000 Cranes," performed by Madison County High School.

The play will also be performed this Friday morning at 9:55 for the high school and at 6 p.m. for any interested in attending. Admission is free. 

This is the second year in a row that Mason has made it to states. Last year they performed Moliere’s sassy "Tartuffe."

"All I Really Need to Know," by contrast, is an "ensemble gathering of lighthearted vignettes which teach morals about how to live life," said cast member Christine Piscopo.

"The fact that it is an ensemble show, makes it all the more impressive that two of our members won acting honors at the regional competition," said director Frank Marino. 

Olivia Jung won outstanding performer, especially for her interpretation of a spider, and Toby Nelson received honorable mention for her storytelling abilities.

The play was written by Robert Fulghum and was based on his best selling book by the same name.