Last minute adjustments, nerves running throughout the whole auditorium, timers in the audience making sure everything is on point.
After a first place finish at zone competition before spring break, the One Act Play competed in One Act at district level and was awarded second place, The company advanced to the bi-district competition, and they will compete their play, A Storm in the Barn, this Friday at the WISD Performing Arts Center.
The play focuses on a family and community in crisis during the Dust Bowl. Set in Kansas on a farm in The Great Depression the play is based on a graphic novel of the same name.
“The best part of one act is working together to create a story,” theater teacher Cassandra Matlock said. “Being with like-minded people who want to work on the same task is wonderful.”
Performers get nervous before going on stage, but at the end they feel the excitement knowing that they performed the best that they could. Last week the group was the first play to perform. Then they waited all day to see if they had advanced to the next level.
“I really did not like going first at district,” junior Emma Johnson said. “I think when you have to wait the adrenaline builds up.It helps us get ready when we have all day to build up to the performance.
Still in competition mode, the groups still wants to make improvements. Junior Avalon Barretto who won awards for their acting at zone and district, is striving to make improvements to make the play even better.
“We have a lot to improve on, we are so close to getting it down,” Barretto said. “I need to put more of myself into my character.”
Some actors focus on acting how they would think their character plays, but others really dive in to get to know the character.
“I am gonna prepare for one act by diving deep into my character Ernie and practicing blocking until it feels natural,” junior Isaiah Higgins said. “Definitely aging my voice and physicality, connecting more with my cast and rehearsing with full energy while also taking care of myself.”
Many performers are very excited about advancing to bi-district, for some this is their first time competing at bi-district.
“It is exciting moving on to the next round,” senior Gabriel Munos said. “This is my first time moving to bi-district. To get ready for this next level of competition, I plan to dive into my character more.”
