Maine West High School competed in the Hal Chastain Drama Festival and Group Interpretation Contest that was held at Maine West last Saturday. Thirteen other schools, all from Northern Illinois, participated in the festival.

In group interpretation Maine West had two entries. "David and the Chevrolet Garden," with Mark Halverson '80, Eileen Terry '80, Marcie Bakker '81, Kendel Okon '81, and Andy McCune '82, placed sixth. They will advance to the district competition. The second entry, "Messages From the Asylum," with Julie Farrell '79, Sheila Nelson '79, Judy Rompf '79, Steve Burek '79, Kathy Bashem '79, and Dave Ward '80, finished in tenth place.

In the play competition Maine West tied for third place with "To Burn a Witch." The play included Janice Johnson '80, Maureen O'Malley '80, Judy Rompf '79, and Sheila Nelson '79.

The judges for the play competition were Dr. David Knight, from the University of Illinois; Dr. Gary Hobbs, from Drake University; and Dr. Jim Barushok, from Northeastern Illinois University. All three men are chairmen of the theatre departments at their respective schools.

The drama festival was named after Mr. Hal Chastain, who was the chairman of the theatre department at Maine South for many years before he died three years ago. He originated the Maine play festival, and it's held in his honor each year.