The middle school’s One Act Play (OAP) competition will be in the cafetorium on Jan. 27.
“We have never hosted in the past,” high school and middle school theater director Greta Peterson said. “Since we have a cafetorium and not a regular auditorium it makes it difficult to host a lot of schools. We are lucky everyone can participate on a Saturday. Four middle schools will be competing including Lampasas, Burnet, Lago Vista and Jerrell. ”
OAP is a theater competition where competing schools prepare a 40 minute play for judges. After all the performances, judges award 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. based on acting, set design, costumes and more. Plays and sets have to fit into specific University Interscholastic League (UIL) OAP requirements to be eligible. Middle school and high school OAP competitions are similar with the biggest difference being that middle schools only compete at a district level whereas high school goes all the way up to state level.
“We have won first place in the last two competitions,” Peterson said. “The middle school is doing The 39 Steps. It’s a detective show set in the 1950s based on old detective novels and black and white TV shows. It’s very ‘tongue in cheek’ acting where the audience is somewhat involved in what the characters are thinking. The detective, Richard Hannay, travels all over London and Scotland to figure out what the 39 Steps actually are.”
Hosting the competition involves contacting judges, securing classrooms to hold competing schools, setting up light cues, creating programs, setting up the cafetorium to be performance ready, setting up rules, providing a standard OAP set, helping each school rehearse and providing judges and directors with food.
“Lots involved with hosting!” Peterson said. “Each school will have their own classroom for their use during the day to get ready. Schools will arrive at 7:30 a.m. and will begin rehearsals at 8 a.m. and begin shows at 1 p.m, running back to back. Critiques from the judge will be done before awards. Awards should occur around 6 p.m. Performances are open to the public with free admission.”
Due to the high workload, high school theater students will help the competition run smoothly. High school students will be assigned to different areas. Their responsibilities include taking care of judges, assisting in the light booth, passing out programs and some students will be assigned to a specific school to make sure they have everything they need.
“I’m super excited!” high school theater officer Elaina Hepting said. “I love when I get the opportunity to be involved in the behind the scenes of theater. I also think having help from kids your own age makes you feel more comfortable, rather than if it were a bunch of adults. I think our school is so welcoming and I’m excited to host!”
