South Lakes theater program wins five Cappies Awards

by Mike Viola, SLHS Theatre director

South Lakes Theatre accepts their five Cappies awards at the Kennedy Center. Photo by Donnie Briggs

South Lakes High School Theatre Arts earned five awards at the 2026 National Capital Area Cappies Gala for its production of "A Monster Calls."

The annual awards program recognizes excellence in high school theater across the Washington metropolitan area and includes more than 40 participating schools.

The production won the Cappies' top honor, Best Play, along with awards for Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Play (Liam Birch as the Monster), Ensemble in a Play (the Core Ensemble), Creativity for its animation and video design, and Returning Critic (Alden Walcott). The production also received 11 nominations, recognizing achievements both onstage and behind the scenes.

Based on Patrick Ness' bestselling novel, "A Monster Calls" tells the story of a young boy coping with his mother's illness with the help of a mysterious tree monster. Theater teacher Michael Viola directed the production, which was noted for its emotional storytelling, imaginative staging and ensemble performances.

South Lakes staged the Fairfax County premiere of "A Monster Calls" in November 2025. This November, the theater program plans to present the Fairfax County premiere of the musical "Come From Away."