By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

If you have been to a Thomas More Prep-Marian or Hays Community Theatre performance in the last four years, you have probably seen Dylan Werth.

Werth’s extensive involvement in local theater has helped him land a $15,000 per year, four-year scholarship to Sterling College.

Werth, 18, a senior at TMP, signed with Sterling College on Wednesday for the scholarship, which is a combination of a music, theater and dean’s academic award.

Werth had been looking at larger public schools, including Fort Hays State University, but Werth, who is also a state champion in improvised duet acting, attended a forensics workshop at Sterling last spring.

“I just fell in love with the place. I think the first thing that got me was that it was a good time of year because it looked beautiful. It was the people there. They were so nice, and I genuinely felt like they cared about the people. It was like ‘You are here. You are in the arts. We like you already.’ We could leave everything at the door and just have fun.”

Werth started with HCT’s performance of “Shrek,” and has been involved with every show TMP and HCT has staged since.

Some of Werth’s more notable roles in the last few years included Jack in TMP’s production of “Into the Woods,” Will in TMP’s “Oklahoma!” and Theodore Laurence in HCT’s “Little Women.”

He was nominated for a theater Jester award for his portrayal of Jack in “In the Woods.”

“It’s a passion,” he said. “It’s what I like to do.”

Werth’s favorite part was Will in TMP’s “Oklahoma!”

“It was very consuming on all parts and all surfaces,” he said. “I had to sing, act and dance and all of that. I helped a lot backstage too with teaching choreography and with the set and props. I liked that best because I got to take all that in and learn all those different areas I haven’t before.”

He said his favorite show was “Into the Woods.”

“The music is amazing, There was no sad part about him,” he said of his character Jack. “He wasn’t happy, but he was too stupid he couldn’t be sad because he didn’t know what was going on. He was always in that la la land stage. That was fun to have fun with and be creative.”

This semester Werth is in three shows as well as participating in forensics at TMP.

He is an assistant director on HCT’s upcoming performance of “Steel Magnolias.” He is Ryan, a suspect, in HCT’s Feb. 15 and 16 show, “Murder Can be Habit Forming.” He will be Tony Kirby, the son of a business mogul, in TMP’s spring comedy “You Can’t Take it With You.”

“My mom always tells me ‘Don’t spread yourself too thin or work yourself to death,'” he said. “But if I am doing what I love, I don’t count it as work. Sure it is work, but I don’t count it as so hectic and time-consuming. I would want to be here anyway.”

When he graduates college, Werth hopes to land a job in live theater.

“I just want to go somewhere and get paid to do what I love,” he said.

He said he would choose live theater over TV or film.

“Nothing else can take it,” he said. “You don’t know what is going to happen when you do live theater. Sure you can practice and practice, but you can’t account for everything. I think that bring a sort of charm to live theater.”

Werth said theater allows you to experience different times and places.

“I think that is why I like theater so much, because you get to travel without moving.”

Werth said Travis Grizzell, TMP drama teacher and active HCT member, has been a role model for him in the last several years.

Werth is in Grizzell’s forensics class. He competes in duet acting and improvised duet acting. Werth and his partner’s piece for duet acting is a selection from a musical comedy, “The Big Bang.” It tells the tale of the history of civilization through campy song and dance.

“It is fun to do. We laugh a lot, and we are being weird characters,” he said.

He said he prefers comedy.

“There is something relaxing about a good comedy,” he said, “to watch them just laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.”

You can buy tickets now to see Dylan in HCT’s “Murder Can be Habit Forming.” Click here to access the HCT webpage for tickets. HCT’s “Steel Magnolias” is set for March 22-24. Tickets will also be available on the HCT website.

Watch the TMP website for more information on “You Can’t Take it With You.” Performance dates are April 12, 13 and 14.