JISD theatre takes stage

Newsboy file photo

JHS Theatre has always made a point of contributing to the community, its proudest contribution being the yearly JHS Veterans' Day program.

For Veterans' Day 2006, JHS Theatre hosted ASalute to Veterans, holding a contest for which 28 students submitted projects depicting "A Veteran I Admire."

JHS Theatre also makes a point of contributing to the younger campuses.

Since fall of 2000, the JHS Encore Players (students who produce plays outside the classroom) have written over 40 children's plays and produced almost 20.

During the '06-'07 school year, they wrote and performed an original play for a Few Right Choice pep rally, wrote and performed Hank and Gertie for Rowe DARE (commissioned by Officer Wanda Brister), and wrote and performed The True Meaning of Christmas as a Parnell Right Choice celebration.

Still in the vault for possible production next year are Red Riding Revenge and Glass Slipper My Foot.

Generally JHS Theatre produces a fall show, rehearsed and performed entirely outside of school hours; these have included Steel Magnolias and Taming of the Shrew (both starring JHS's own Mr. Schofield), Rumors, Marvin's Room, and Bang Bang You're Dead, a progressive expose of school violence.

The fall show serves as a sort of warm-up to One Act Play, allowing new theatre students a chance to get a feel for rehearsal and production, and to see if they are prepared for the stringent schedule of UIL One Act Play.

The JHS One Act Play team has won District every year in recent memory, earning numerous Regional appearances (most recently Robin Hood in 2004), winning a State bronze for the team in 1999 with Voice of the Prairie, and making a State appearance with Pippin in May of this year.

For UIL OAP, current director Kim Hines tends to choose plays that have large casts, shooting for the UIL maximum of 15 actors, because she believes that the more students involved, the more the Theatre program will thrive.

The goals of One Act Play each year are: first- to produce a quality show that enlightens and moves participants and audiences; second- to create an ensemble family feel in which team members create memories that will last a lifetime; and third- to walk away from each contest, win or lose, knowing that the team executed an awesome show.

To be selected as part of the One Act Play team, a student must audition/interview (usually in early December), provideteacher references, enroll in the One Act Play class, and sign a contract that details what is expected of team members. Rehearsals/meetings are typically three nights a week from 5 - 8 p.m.