BOURNE — No audience member was safe from Wareham High School at the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival Saturday, March 1.

As cast members acted out various Brothers Grimm stories in record speed, audience members were invited to participate in the show. The play included 23 students, and featured famous characters like Cinderella, Rumplestiltskin, and Snow White.

Sophomore Sophie Norcross played Narrator 2 and Prince, and said talking to the crowd was a fun aspect of her role.

“Just to see them actively listen to each word that was being said instead of just watching it was cool,” Norcross said. “Being able to point people out in the crowd and they’re like, ‘Oh no! Not me!’ It’s really funny.”

It was director Joey Ferro’s first year in charge of Wareham drama. But, it isn’t his first time at the festival. Ferro participated starting when he was a junior in high school, and he wanted to give everyone who wanted to be on stage a chance to perform.

“Being on the other end of it, it’s almost even so much better,” he said. “I’ve seen this play go from getting the rights and building the pieces to seeing all my actors growing into these characters.”

This was the fourth appearance at the festival for junior Abigail Balano who played Narrator 1 and Queen. She said being around so many other schools has been a unique and fun experience..

“I love the celebration of it, I just think it’s really cool that all the high schools get to come together and that we get to be a part of that,” she said.

Four out of the eight plays performed on Saturday will advance to the next round but Ferro said that winning or advancing isn’t the most important part of their time at the festival.

“I’m not concerned about whether we go on or not,” he said. “I told [the students] these other schools aren’t just challengers, I told them to look at the shows and see what works and what can be improved on and how we can incorporate that into our own performances.”

Wareham High School advanced to the semi finals and will compete Saturday, March 15.