The St. Mary Academy-Bay View Players theatre troupe was crowned champion at the 2024 Rhode Island Drama Festival last week for its performance of “The Night Witches,” a play about the daring female pilots who fought against Nazis in World War II.

In addition to winning the top prize, eight Bay View students (see below) received “All Star” awards for excellence in performance and set design. The Players advance to compete in the New England Drama Festival in Attleboro, April 18-20, at Attleboro High School.

“We are so incredibly happy for these young women,” said school president Amy Gravell. “They worked so hard to tell the story of this relatively unknown group of pilots. I’m extremely proud of what they accomplished and cannot wait to see them on the stage at the New England Drama Fest!”

Led by the school’s chair of performing arts, Nancy Anastadis Peters Bay View Class of 2004, the production of “The Night Witches” one-act play "uses movement, song, and lyrically styled dialogue to take audiences on a journey – following a group of brave female Russian/Soviet pilots through one fateful evening during the war."

The aviators, of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment and later as the 46th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, gained the nickname from the Germans for their proficiency in the darkness. Author Rachel Bublitz, who resides in Utah, is an award-winning and internationally produced playwright known for telling stories about women and creating exciting new work for young performers.

Bay View’s return to the regional thespian festival, dating back to the 1920s, marks a nostalgic milestone for the school as it prepares to commemorate its 150th anniversary.

“From the stagehands to the actors, all the girls put in a lot of time and research to be able to portray these pilots and tell this story. They are an incredible group. I’m thrilled they made it to the next stage of this competition,” Peters said. “I am confident that these talented young women will bring the same passion and pride [to regionals]. So, we can share this story and meet other students that are as passionate as we are about performing arts.”

As The Players prepare to compete against schools from all New England states, local performances of “The Night Witches” will take place at the Bay View Auditorium this Tuesday, March 12, at 3 p.m. and Wednesday, March 13, at 9:30 a.m.

CAST
* Tatyana, pilot - Yiling Brady ’27, Seekonk
* Vera, novice navigator - Zara Jean ’25, Pawtucket
* Nina, novice navigator - Sophia Delara ’27, Providence
* Irina, pilot - Maggie Peterson ’25, Rumford
* Polina, deputy commander - Yishan Brady ’26, Seekonk
* Serafima, pilot - Lily Tremble ’26, East Greenwich
Zoya, commander - Elizabeth Dunlop ’27, Bristol
Raisa, head mechanic - Emelia Zabbo ’26, Rumford
* Alexandra, navigator - Julie DaSilva ’26, Pawtucket
Marta, combat aviator - Theodora Minca ’27, Providence
Valentina, combat aviator - Jillian Escobar ’26, Rehoboth

PRODUCTION CREW
Director - Nancy Peters, Chair of Performing Arts, Cranston
Assistant Director - Olivia Dufresne ’25, Warren
Music Director – Miss Diane Gualtieri
Technical Director - Cassandra Bonilla ’24, Pawtucket
* Lighting Design - Ava Sousa ’25, Warren
Stage Manager - Selah Ethier ’25, Rumford

* Denotes All Star recognition for their excellence in performance and set design.