The theater company hosted the middle school district One Act Play (OAP) competition in the cafetorium Feb 1.
“It was a lot of fun hosting the competition this year,” theater company social chair Kenzie Stone said. “Competing at the middle school level helps kids learn fundamental acting skills that prepare them to act onstage at the high school level. It is nice to see the middle schoolers have fun with their shows and thoroughly enjoy theater.”
This is the second year that the high school theater company has hosted the competition. Five middle schools competed including Lampasas, Lago Vista, Taylor, Burnet and Jerrell. Lago Vista placed first, Lampasas placed second and Burnet placed third. High school theater director Greta Peterson acted as contest manager and high school theater students assisted in running the competition.
“The high school students do a ton of work,” Peterson said. “They clean the stage and classroom area, paint and repair the one act set, set up hospitality, help bring the sets of the schools into the cafetorium, get the whole area cleaned and ready to go, clean up after the competition, help the schools with set up/tear down and anything else they might need, help with the award ceremony and just hang around waiting for instructions! It’s a lot of work and they are here early and leave late. Lots of dedication. I couldn’t do this job without them.”
At the competition, each middle school gets a short rehearsal period to practice on the stage and situate their sets, they then wait for their designated performance slot. When it is their turn they each perform a 39 minute play in front of a judge. After all the performances are over, each school gets an individual 10 minute critique from the judge. They then go to the award ceremony where the top performers win medals and the top three schools earn plaques.
“My favorite part of hosting is seeing young actors take an idea and bring it to life,” Peterson said. “Growth is amazing in this type of event, the kids are by themselves on stage, without an adult, and they have to really rely upon each other for it to succeed. This is the best!”
The middle school performed the show “Wiley and the Hairy Man” about a young fatherless boy named Wiley, his conjure-woman mother, his faithful dog and the Hairy Man that haunts Wiley’s days and dreams. They began preparing for competition in September with rehearsals during class four days a week for about 35 minutes in the middle school cafeteria.
“I am extremely proud of them and very pleased with our 2nd place ranking,” middle school theater director Kelli Cox said. “My students showed up ready to perform and give their all to something that they worked very hard on. At the end of the day they told a good story and had a great time doing it. That’s all I could ever ask for.”
In years previous, Cox has directed the middle school company’s show with help from Peterson. This is the first year that Cox has completely directed the show alone.
“Directing without Mrs. Peterson was challenging,” Cox said. “She is a great mentor! I love how passionate and knowledgeable she is about theatre. I have been incredibly lucky to get to work with her, because not every new teacher gets an opportunity like that. However, I feel like she did a great job of preparing me to direct on my own. Finding my own flow and style has been really fun.”
A week prior to the competition high school theater company officers traveled to the middle school to watch their show and give critiques.
“We came to give the middle schoolers critiques on their show, good and bad,” Stone said. “Our critiques were beneficial to the middle schoolers because it helped them tweak small details to make their show fit for competition. They had great energy and enthusiasm that made it an entertaining experience.”
Over the course of preparing their show, the middle school theater company bonded and grew friendships that extend past the stage.
“Watching my team build relationships with each other is one of my favorite parts of this job,” Cox said. “Many of my students are very quiet in person and theater gives them a space where they are free to be themes and connect with other students like them. I have seen them support each other inside and outside of class. They truly form a little family!”
