Masco’s thespians were filled with anticipation and excitement as they performed Brian the Comet, a play by Emily Hageman, at the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s annual high school drama festival.

“Fest”, as it is colloquially known, is an event where high schools from across the state perform one-act plays in a competitive environment. The Masco Theater Company is no stranger to taking part in this event, as 2026 marks the fourth year they have competed.

“It’s so much fun,” said senior Avery Sommer. “You get to make a whole lot of friends and share your craft with people who understand everything you did to get where you did.”

The event brings a different atmosphere to a performance compared to a typical show. Sets need to be able to be set up and struck within five minutes, as there are several schools performing in one day at the same location. Shows must also not exceed 40 minutes, as they will be disqualified otherwise.

“Dramafest is an experience all different from any other theatre experience,” said senior Juliette Greene. “Each and every moment is so meticulously planned, and we spend hours working on just one scene. In normal theatre, usually you go over a scene a couple times before performing and do two or so dress rehearsals before the show, but with Fest, we drill it in costume over and over again until all 40 minutes become second nature.”

For drama advisor Meaghan DelGenio, this is her first time taking part in a fest since she started teaching at Masco. In her eyes, she couldn’t be more proud of her actors.

“I really appreciate whenever actors can make their own choices, and I always want to make sure they have their space to do that,” said DelGenio. “This show would not have come together without all of them.”

Although Masco’s theatre company did not advance, there will still be a home performance of Brian the Comet on March 6 for anyone interested. Admission is free, but viewers are encouraged to donate in support of cancer patients.