On December 13, 2023, the Orange Beach City Schools Theatre Department, led by Director Grace Stanton, garnered top honors at the prestigious Trumbauer 2023 State Competition.

Competing against 114 schools and 2,000 peers, students from Orange Beach demonstrated exceptional talent and commitment at the Trumbauer 2023 State Competition, securing significant accolades in the performing arts.

Four students from the group achieved top placements in the prestigious competition:

• 1st Place Duet Musical: Luiza Salazar and Elizabeth Rayfield
• 2nd Place Solo Musical: Kenlee Leighton
• 2nd Place Solo Acting: Ro Barnett

The students' achievements at the competition highlight their talent and dedication, distinguishing them among the state's best.

In addition to individual accolades, the Orange Beach City School’s Theatre Department achieved further distinction, with 16 performances earning the Superior rating, the highest honor in the competition, highlighting the department's commitment to excellence.

The 13 students who received Superiors include:

• Sam Nelson
• Mark Kalinauskas
• Lilly Logan
• Lilly Fagan
• Kenlee Leighton
• Lexi Rice
• Faith Craig (x3)
• Mason Steiner
• Blake Sterling
• Luiza Salazar (x2)
• Emerson Gehrman
• Elizabeth Rayfield
• Ro Barnett

These achievements underscore the talent of the students and the dedication of Director Grace Stanton, along with the Orange Beach City Schools leadership team, in fostering a high standard of excellence.

Reflecting on the students' performance, Director Grace Stanton said, “Our theatre students showcased a level of dedication and talent over the weekend, and I could not be more proud of the acknowledgment they received! We are building an exceptional program that our community should be very proud of.”