NORFOLK, NEB. -- The curtain is closing on the 2021 NSAA State Play Production Championships.

Crowds were back in the Johnny Carson Theatre in Norfolk a year after Covid-19 limited attendance.

Competitors said they had been looking forward to the return of having the arts back in person.

"Last year, everything was so crazy. Theatre, Broadway, everything was shut down and the arts got lost in all that," said Malcolm High School Senior Hana Maddox. "For speech, we had to everything online, while basketball is in person and that's kind of heartbreaking. And finding out we couldn't watch any other person perform at state was kind of sad."

Despite the competition, behind-the-scenes participants said they were happy to be back together on the big stage at state.

"It's been a 'bring it together' moment and in previous years the competitions been high and the competition is high this year," said Malcolm High School Assistant Director Austyn McKee. "There's a sense of unity because we lost so much in the previous year."

Final results:

1. Gretna
2. Malcolm
3. Lincoln High
4. Norfolk
5. Kearney
6. Lincoln East

Outstanding Male Performer: Charles Sams, Gretna
Outstanding Female Performer: Hana Maddox, Malcolm
Outstanding Technical Crew: Norfolk

1. York
2. Ogallala
3. Omaha Concordia
4. Columbus Scotus
5. Valentine
6. Schuyler

Outstanding Male Performer: Luke Przymus, Columbus Scotus
Outstanding Female Performer: Hattie Chavanu, York
Outstanding Technical Crew: Schuyler

1. Wausmond
2. Archbishop Bergan
3. Aquinas
4. Gordon-Rushville
5. Ord
6. Lutheran High Northeast

Outstanding Male Performer: Grant Gibson, Archbishop Bergan
Outstanding Female Performer: Ival Jones-Hazeldine, Gordon-Rushville
Outstanding Technical Crew: Ord

1. Hartington-Newcastle
2. Hemingford
3. Elmwood-Murdock
4. Ravenna
5. Southern Valley
6. Creighton

Outstanding Male Performer: Jude Krie, Hartington-Newcastle
Outstanding Female Performer: Sarina Radspinner, Hemingford
Outstanding Technical Crew: Hartington-Newcastle

1. Holy Family/St. Francis
2. Callaway
3. Leigh
4. Harvard
5. Stapleton
6. Central Valley

Outstanding Male Performer: Seth Wiese, Holy Family/St. Francis
Outstanding Female Performer: Dilynn Wood, Central Valley
Outstanding Technical Crew: Callaway

1. Arnold
2. Potter-Dix
3. Chambers
4. St. Mary's
5. Shickley
6. Wilcox-Hildreth

Outstanding Male Performer: Gunnar Oleson, Potter-Dix
Outstanding Female Performer: Reagan Cool, Arnold
Outstanding Technical Crew: Chambers