Since the beginning of the school year, Ms. LeCure’s Actor Ensemble class has been working hard to put together a one-act play, Brian the Comet, for competition in the spring.
Student Alexis Diehls, a senior, explained how they had to vote on the script and then hold auditions before beginning the rehearsal process. But in addition to acting, students also have to fill behind-the-scene roles, like managing technical effects.
Sophomore Kallie Richards, for example, is serving as stage manager for Brian the Comet. She explained what this job entails: “I need to know where everyone’s supposed to be at all times. […] Although I have a lot to do, I’m having a lot of fun with it and enjoying what I’m doing.”
Kallie also shared what she’s looking forward to when they take Brian the Comet to competition: “I’m really excited […] for it all to come together and to see all of my actors do so well in something they’ve worked so hard on for a while, and for all my hard work to also come to fruition. I’m excited for it to look cool.”
One scene that cast and crew members think will look particularly “cool” is the climactic scene of the play, where Jude, played by senior Mia Meyers, has a breakdown, and all of the ensemble actors come in. Kallie, Alexis, and Maja Korabiewska, another senior, all said that this scene was their favorite of the whole play.
Alexis said that this scene stands out to her because “the way we all fit together in that scene, it’s really good.” Maja explained that “it shows everyone’s strong emotions and everyone has to be a strong part in the play in this moment.”
While Actor Ensemble is working hard to do well at state, many of the students are also getting ready to head to Kansas City for Missouri’s International Thespian Society (ITS) conference, held from January 8th to 10th. In order to qualify to compete in the conference, students must have spent at least 100 hours rehearsing for theater productions.
Alexis is one student who will attend the conference. As a senior, she has been to ITS before, and shared her favorite memory from a previous year, when she got to visit Build-a-Bear and Alexis made a bear for her best friend.
Maja explained that ITS is exciting because it gives students lots of opportunities to attend workshops with professional performers, learn new things, and meet new people. At ITS, attendees can also compete in various categories, like acting, singing, and technical skills, and audition for drama schools across the nation.
The CCHS drama department allows students to explore this broad area of interests through classes like Actor Ensemble and programs like the International Thespian Society.
