Sumter's Next Generation, presented by TheLINK: Sumter High's Drama Troupe 5054 talks the power of theater, community after wins at Palmetto Dramatic Association Festival

The lights are bright, the music is loud and the people are laughing, talking and moving quickly across the stage.

For someone walking into a theater room for the first time, it can feel like a whirlwind.

But for students of Sumter High School's Drama Troupe 5054, that whirlwind is where they found themselves.

"When you first walk, it's a lot of very bright lights and very loud music and very loud people," said sophomore Riley English about her freshman year experience in the theater troupe. "But once you get used to it, it doesn't feel as chaotic. And even if it does feel chaotic, it's a nice kind of chaotic."

That energy helped shape the experience of Riley, two seniors, Walker Craven and Bryson Aycock, and many others who recently represented Sumter High at the Palmetto Dramatics Association theater festival this February at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, where the group earned major recognition.

PDA, as the local troupe refers to it, is where high school theater groups from across South Carolina gather to perform, compete and learn from one another. Students can present a variety of performances, including a one-act play as a group performance, or compete in individual events such as acting, singing, costume design, stage management or tech.

For Troupe 5054, preparation was intense. The drama class had just finished their fall musical when auditions with Lexi Melton, troupe coordinator, began for the festival, leaving about a month of prep time. The biggest challenge, according to Bryson, were the time constraints. The previous year, the troupe had 45 minutes to put on a show-stopping performance. This year, they had 40 minutes.

Despite the long nights and tedious challenges, the work paid off. When the time came to perform, the nerves faded as soon as those bright house lights beamed.

Several students, including Bryson, Walker and Riley, earned Superior ratings for their individual performances - the highest honor judges can award.

Walker's dramatic monologue was about a man trying to convince his wife that life will continue after he was transformed into a leprechaun. Riley competed in two events: a musical solo from "Matilda" and a dramatic scene with her friend, Keely, of two sisters with opposing views on marriage. She took home superior in both. Bryson's monologue from "Bamboozled" about how he was pretty not only won him a Superior but something much more sentimental. He'd attended other competitions and festivals in the past, leaning on his strong suit, which is theater technical skills. He never broached acting, until this February.

"It felt very surreal. When I performed my [individual event], I [felt] like I rushed it a little bit, so I wasn't expecting much. When they did call my name, I was like, 'Oh! Now I feel very accomplished,'" he said with a bright smile. "I felt very proud of myself that I actually won one of my individual events before I left."

The same could be said for Walker. Having grown up in the theater world, it was a full-circle moment to receive a Superior rating on his last PDA performance as part of Troupe 5054.

"It felt great because I've never really won anything for acting. I've never really been to a competition before," Walker said. "It felt really weird having people come up to me after [and say] that was incredible. I had directors come up to me; it just felt great."

As if it couldn't get any better, Troupe 5054 took home the spirit award - for the first time in 30 years. The Spirit Award recognizes high school theater groups that demonstrate exceptional kindness, positivity, support, connection and character during the festival. Other participating troupes vote on who they would want to work with and whose teamwork, leadership and camaraderie they admire most.

Bryson said the win was unbelievable, partially because they weren't aware that other troupes admired their work and connection that much. Sure, their peers said they'd vote for Troupe 5054, praising their positivity both on and off stage. But to hear their troupe called was quite the surprise.

"That's great that everybody really enjoys us as people and would like to be a part of our theater troupe if they couldn't be in theirs," Bryson expressed, Walker and Riley nodding in agreement.

And for this trio, there's no place they'd rather be. It goes beyond the competitions and class performances. It's the feeling of community. Theater has taught these students how to feel something deeper than their own emotions. It taught them how to step outside of their comfort zone and face their fears.

"Growing up, and it got really bad when I got in high school, I always struggled with social anxiety," Walker shared. "[Theater] helped me meet other people and gain a lot of empathy, too."

"Whenever I was in middle school, I had like a very rough time. I was very self-conscious, and that was me throughout high school for a little bit. But whenever I got involved in theater, I felt more comfortable and more accepted to be who I was," Bryson shared. "It was very refreshing and amazing to be in a space where it felt like a family. That's why I cherish this so much because they are like a second family to me."

That family dynamic is what keeps them going throughout the long rehearsals that stretch well into the night. The long hours can be exhausting in the moment, but the memories they create make it worthwhile. They're only eager to call it quits because the sooner they leave, the sooner they can gather again.

With college application deadlines looming and graduation approaching for Walker, Bryson and their fellow senior actors, it feels bittersweet to leave behind the warm, cozy, colorful and, more often than not, kooky corner of school. But, with the next generation of thespians making their mark, they encourage them to continue to push boundaries. And when it gets scary, take the leap anyway.

"Find the group that you know you will fit into, even if you're scared to join. Commit to it and don't just do half of the work; really pour all your soul into it," Walker expressed. "If that's not what you want to do, go find a different one. You can always start over and come back; it's never permanent. You don't have to stay there if you don't enjoy it as much as you thought you would."

"You'll see yourself grow and really connect with people you never thought you would connect with," Walker added.

As Riley takes in the advice of the upperclassmen she has come to consider her best friends, she'll cherish the time she has left on their high school theater stage, sharing words of wisdom that have made her first two years worthwhile.

"Don't be afraid to put yourself out there," she said. "Do [everything] you do 100%. Don't be afraid to make friends because two years ago, I didn't know any of the people that are my closest friends now. Just put yourself out there."