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Alex Cummiskey is known around Middletown High School as a performer, but now he is also known as a winner.
Since his freshman year, he has been involved in the school’s highly esteemed productions, including this year’s “Noises Off” and the spring musical “White Christmas,” and he took first place at Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud contest Feb. 24.
Eighteen students from across the state competed in the contest, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware State Arts Council. Each contestant was required to research, memorize and recite three poems, and they were judged based on their vocal projection, word accuracy and articulation.
Cummiskey, a junior at MHS, said although English has always been his favorite subject, it wasn’t until the contest that he took a real interest in poetry.
“Now that I’ve been acting for a while, I started to do more research into the poems I was reciting and I really analyzed them,” he said. “Now that I have a better understanding of what my poems mean, I have a much greater appreciation for it.”
During the competition, Cummiskey took the stage to read “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg, “A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous General” by Jonathon Swift and “Immortal Sails” by Alfred Noyes.
“It was an awesome experience,” he said. “It was such a great feeling getting on stage and reciting what I had been practicing for such a long time and actually understanding what I was saying.”
Sheila Ross, program manager for Arts in Education and Accessibility at the Division of the Arts, said Cummiskey did a great job choosing poems that resonated with him.
“He eloquently and effortlessly demonstrated an understanding of each line and each word of each poem,” she said. “His impeccable delivery and performance of the poems combined with a touch of drama with a bit of wit was a delightful combination. Apparently, the judges felt the same and scored him accordingly.”
The state title will remain at MHS for the third consecutive year. MHS graduate Tonisha Jones took first place in the competition in 2008 and 2009.
Cummiskey said Poetry Out Loud not only offered him a new outlet to express himself, but a way to enhance his acting abilities.
“I learned to be much more honest when reading the poems,” he said. “I think being able to act more realistically will help me further in any scripts I have to act out. It’ll help me be a more believable character.”
Amanda Chas, drama teacher at MHS, said she knew Cumminskey had what it took to win.
“Alex is an excellent communicator and performer,” she said. “He’s the kind of person who is always striving to do well in anything he does. He’s fearless.”
Cummiskey said when he was younger, his family exposed him to a lot of musicals, but it wasn’t until he moved from Houston, Texas to Middletown and entered high school that acting became a passion.
“I started taking drama classes, and I found that I enjoyed acting much more than I previously thought, so I just continued to pursue it,” he said.
Cummiskey said he is not sure if he will pursue acting as a career, but it is certainly an option.
As for poetry, he is already preparing for the national finals for Poetry Out Loud, which will take place April 26 in Washington, D.C. No matter what happens, he plans to come back next year to compete in the state competition again.
“Whatever happens at the finals, I’ll know more about how to do better,” he said. “I’ll take what I learned this year and do better next year.”
To view a video of Cummiskey reciting “A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous General” by Jonathon Swift, click here
Alex Cummiskey is known around Middletown High School as a performer, but now he is also known as a winner.
Since his freshman year, he has been involved in the school’s highly esteemed productions, including this year’s “Noises Off” and the spring musical “White Christmas,” and he took first place at Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud contest Feb. 24.
Eighteen students from across the state competed in the contest, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware State Arts Council. Each contestant was required to research, memorize and recite three poems, and they were judged based on their vocal projection, word accuracy and articulation.
Cummiskey, a junior at MHS, said although English has always been his favorite subject, it wasn’t until the contest that he took a real interest in poetry.
“Now that I’ve been acting for a while, I started to do more research into the poems I was reciting and I really analyzed them,” he said. “Now that I have a better understanding of what my poems mean, I have a much greater appreciation for it.”
During the competition, Cummiskey took the stage to read “Chicago” by Carl Sandburg, “A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous General” by Jonathon Swift and “Immortal Sails” by Alfred Noyes.
“It was an awesome experience,” he said. “It was such a great feeling getting on stage and reciting what I had been practicing for such a long time and actually understanding what I was saying.”
Sheila Ross, program manager for Arts in Education and Accessibility at the Division of the Arts, said Cummiskey did a great job choosing poems that resonated with him.
“He eloquently and effortlessly demonstrated an understanding of each line and each word of each poem,” she said. “His impeccable delivery and performance of the poems combined with a touch of drama with a bit of wit was a delightful combination. Apparently, the judges felt the same and scored him accordingly.”
The state title will remain at MHS for the third consecutive year. MHS graduate Tonisha Jones took first place in the competition in 2008 and 2009.
Cummiskey said Poetry Out Loud not only offered him a new outlet to express himself, but a way to enhance his acting abilities.
“I learned to be much more honest when reading the poems,” he said. “I think being able to act more realistically will help me further in any scripts I have to act out. It’ll help me be a more believable character.”
Amanda Chas, drama teacher at MHS, said she knew Cumminskey had what it took to win.
“Alex is an excellent communicator and performer,” she said. “He’s the kind of person who is always striving to do well in anything he does. He’s fearless.”
Cummiskey said when he was younger, his family exposed him to a lot of musicals, but it wasn’t until he moved from Houston, Texas to Middletown and entered high school that acting became a passion.
“I started taking drama classes, and I found that I enjoyed acting much more than I previously thought, so I just continued to pursue it,” he said.
Cummiskey said he is not sure if he will pursue acting as a career, but it is certainly an option.
As for poetry, he is already preparing for the national finals for Poetry Out Loud, which will take place April 26 in Washington, D.C. No matter what happens, he plans to come back next year to compete in the state competition again.
“Whatever happens at the finals, I’ll know more about how to do better,” he said. “I’ll take what I learned this year and do better next year.”
To view a video of Cummiskey reciting “A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous General” by Jonathon Swift, click here
