The Bard is carrying Nansemond River High School’s drama students even further than they would have dreamed.

The team will move on to the state theater competition with its play “Shakespeare for Schmucks,” adapted from the play “Shakespeare Abridged.” It is the first year the drama students have made it to state competitions.

“We’re really excited,” said Joleen Neighbours, drama and choir teacher at Nansemond River. “The kids are thrilled.”

Nansemond River won first place at the Virginia High School League’s regional one-act play competition on Friday.

“It was the absolute best they have ever performed,” Neighbours said. “They did extremely well.”

Nansemond River High School drama students placed second in the district competition held at King’s Fork High School. There, they performed against the other Suffolk high schools and against other schools in the district. The schools that placed first through third went on to the regional competition this weekend at Salem High School in Virginia Beach.

Nansemond River competed against Princess Anne, Bayside, Menchville, Grassfield, Churchland, Booker T. Washington and Hampton high schools.

“This is one of the best groups I’ve had in terms of coming together as a team,” Neighbours said. “I have to give credit to the students; they had the audience in stitches.”

Even the judges laughed, she added.

The state championships will be held at the Dickinson Center for Performing Arts in Charlottesville on March 5.

The team will host a performance Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Nansemond River High School. This event will be free and open to the public.