Ben Deady, a junior, starred in the Case High Theatre Company production of “The Woodsman,” an adaptation of the Obie Award Winning Production. The production won first place for the 2025-2026 METG Festival, earning the Case High School theater group the title of State Champions. (Photo Courtesy Sam Deady Photography)
SWANSEA — The students behind of the Case High Theatre Company showed they have heart with their performance of a one-act play that tells the backstory of the Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Swansea Public Schools is proud to announce that the Case High School theater group earned the title of State Champions at the 2025-26 Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) Festival for its performance of “The Woodsman,” an adaptation of the Obie Award-winning production, with music by Dr. Edward W. Hardy, directed by Neil Jeronimo. “The Woodsman” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” telling the story of how the Tin Man lost his heart.
The Case High Theatre Company finished in first place in a highly competitive field of more than 100 schools that participated in the annual METG Festival, delivering a championship performance on Friday, March 27, at the State Finals held at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston. The festival, which calls on each school theater group to perform a 40-minute, one-act play, also includes a preliminary round and a semifinal round, with each stage judged by a team of expert METG Adjudicators.
“Winning the METG Festival is the highest honor in the state for a high school theater company,” said Neil Jeronimo, Director of Theatre for Swansea Public Schools. “It is with immense pride that I share that Joseph Case High School earned the title of State champions this year. This achievement is especially meaningful given the subjective nature of theater adjudication. Unlike regular competitions, where outcomes are determined by points or scores, this honor reflects the thoughtful evaluation of a panel of judges, making it both unique and deeply rewarding.”
Throughout its 46 seasons participating in this annual festival, Case High School has advanced to the State Finals 32 times and became State Champions eight times.
“While we always emphasize to our students that reaching the finals is an achievement in itself, being recognized as State Champions is truly extraordinary,” said Jeronimo, who is now in his 10th year leading the district’s theater program. “I am incredibly proud of our students, not only for their talent and dedication, but also for being one of the smaller schools in the competition while bringing one of the largest student groups to the festival.”
As part of the METG Festival, the championship-winning Case High School production also earned the Tom Marcello Award for Technical Excellence, which is named after the former longtime Director of Theatre for Swansea Public Schools.
“The program was led for its first 40 years by Mr. Tom Marcello, whose legacy continues to shape the work we do today,” Jeronimo said. “This award, named after our former theater director, recognizes the judges’ favorite technical achievement of the entire festival, making it an especially meaningful distinction for our program.”
In addition to the overall championship and the Tom Marcello Award for Technical Excellence, the Case High School students received several individual and group honors:
- Paige Monast, a sophomore, received an Acting Award for her portrayal of Nimmie.
- Aubree Amaral, a sophomore, and Marissa Mello, a senior, received an Acting Award for their portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the East.
- Senior Georgia Cleary, junior Page Sousa, junior Stephen Khoury, and senior Hannah Kielec received a Puppet Design and Construction Award.
Superintendent Scott Holcomb and Principal Christopher Costa congratulated all the students behind the championship-winning production, from the lead actors to the technical assistants who worked behind the scenes.
“We are blown away by the incredible skills and abilities of our actors, crew and everyone involved with staging this championship-winning play,” said Principal Costa. “This is an incredible achievement. We are so proud of our State Champions from the Case High Theatre Company. Congratulations to our students, their teachers, their families and to our entire school community.”
“I can’t express how proud we are of our students. This is incredible news,” said Superintendent Holcomb. “Their passion, talent and skills are inspirational. This state title highlights the strength of our theater program and that of all of our art programs in the district. Congratulations to the Case High Theatre Company on becoming State Champions!”
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The Case High Theatre Company became State Champions for winning the 2025-26 METG Festival for its performance of “The Woodsman.” (Photo Courtesy Sam Deady Photography)
Junior Jack Deady and sophomore Paige Monast performed a scene from “The Woodsman,” which earned the Case High Theatre Company the title of State Champions at the 2025-26 METG Festival. (Photo Courtesy Sam Deady Photography)
Jack Deady, a junior, performed in the Case High Theatre Company production of “The Woodsman” that won the 2025-26 METG Festival. (Photo Courtesy Sam Deady Photography)
Freshman Chris Aguiar and sophomore Avery Lunn, in front from left to right, starred in the Case High Theatre Company production of “The Woodsman” that won first place at the 2025-26 METG Festival. (Photo Courtesy Sam Deady Photography)
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