U-46 board honors Larkin High’s performance at state theater festival

Posted March 16, 2026 11:23 am

By Tara Burghart, Elgin Area School District U-46

Twenty-five high school students were recognized by the Elgin Area School District U-46 board at its March 2 meeting for their outstanding achievements in the fine arts.

Twenty-four students either acted in or were a part of the technical crew for Larkin High School’s production of “Birthday Candles” that was chosen as a featured school production at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival, held in January on the campus of Illinois State University.

The play follows one woman as she ages from 17 to 107. Schools apply to the festival, and adjudicators attend each applying production to determine which ones will be selected to perform.

“This was an incredible opportunity. Our students performed for hundreds of theater students and teachers from all across the state, and we were able to showcase how awesome the Larkin theater program is,” said Larkin drama and English teacher Becca Weihofen, who served as the show’s director. “I'm incredibly proud of all of the students. This has been one of my favorite experiences of my career.”

Also honored with an Accent on Achievement certificate by the Board of Education on March 2 was Hana Abdelfattah, a Larkin senior who was chosen to perform with the All-State improv ensemble at the festival.

Larkin High School's production of “Birthday Candles,” which follows a woman aging from 17 to 107, was performed for hundreds of theater students and teachers at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival in January. Courtesy of U-46

The cast of “Birthday Candles” includes: Alonzo Carrillo, junior, as Matt/William; Bella Ciancio, junior, Ernestine Ashworth; Alex Imburgia, sophomore, male understudy; Evangeline LeMier-Idris, junior, Ernestine understudy; Janessa Martinez, junior, Joan/Alex/Beth; Ben Melecio, junior, Kenneth understudy; Mia Novelli, freshman, female understudy; David Ordaz, senior, Billy/John; Andrew Schultz, junior, Kenneth; River Sherman, junior, Madeline/Emie; Meadow Withaeger, junior, Alice;

The crew includes: Sydney Boline, sophomore, assistant stage manager, props designer; Quinn Dadabo, junior, stage manager; Casper (Violet) Funk, senior, deckhand; Vivian Garay, senior, lightboard operator, assistant lighting designer; Diego Jorge, freshman, assistant stage manager; Tenoch (Jaiden) Morales, junior, deckhand; Ezra Sanchez, senior, SFX operator, assistant lighting designer; Pati Tedecki, senior, soundboard operator; Dipper Green, senior, assistant director; Maddy Hand, freshman, assistant costume designer; Yuritsie Martinez, senior, costume designer; Emi Miller, sophomore, assistant lighting designer; Dani Rojas, junior, assistant props designer.

The staff includes: Adam Baxter, technical director; Shannon Kazmierczak, photographer; and Rebecca Weihofen, director, set designer, sound designer, and lighting designer.