After watching, listening, and then individually critiquing eight Class A dramatic productions, a panel of judges rated three of them “starred performances” on Thursday, Feb. 9, during the 2012 State One Act Play Festival sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. The two-day festival is conducted at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium on the St. Catherine University campus in St. Paul. Eight productions by Class AA schools will be staged Friday, Feb. 10.
The top eight Class A productions from across the state took the stage throughout the day. The three schools whose performances were cited for “starred performances” were (in order of performance) Belle Plaine for The Invasion of Earth as It Began in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey, St. Charles for The Man in the Bowler Hat, and East Central of Sandstone/Askov for Juda’s Daughter. The other participating Class A high schools were Wadena-Deer Creek, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Sauk Centre, Roseau, and St. Croix Lutheran of West St. Paul.
Representing Section 2, Belle Plaine’s “starred performance” of The Invasion of Earth as It Began in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey by J.R. Mimbs was directed by Tony Hartmann and Peter Jacobson. For four different groups of people awaiting the radio broadcast of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds in 1938, things go horribly awry when a news report indicates that aliens may have invaded Grover's Mill, New Jersey. As fears set in, concerns over money, conspiracies, faith, and self-defense come to a head and panic builds as everyone struggles to decide what to do next. But what if things are not necessarily as they seem? In the face of a possible catastrophe, everyone must discover what is important in their lives. The school was making its 10th appearance and earned its ninth “starred” rating. The school earned previous “starred” ratings in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. Cast members were Aiden Winterfeldt, Kyle O'Brien, Nick Johnson, Tyler Fatz, Cassidy Pumper, Erin Winters, Mitchell Farmer-Lies, Kyeanna Pickar, Kali Gorman, Jake Hartmann, Kelly Morrison, Matthew Ludvik, Laura Schaefer, Patrick Selly, Dylan O'Brien, Rylee Pumper, and Alec Lroenz. Bren Preusser, Andrew Winterfeldt, and Mikhayla Clausen provided support.
Representing Section 1, St. Charles’ “starred performance” of The Man in the Bowler Hat was written by A. A. Milne and directed by Theodore Derby. The school was making its ninth appearance and earned its fifth “starred” rating. This is the story of a stuffy upper-class British couple just aching for some excitement in their lives. Enter a lusty young couple, a pair of crafty villains, and of course the mysterious Man in the Bowler Hat, and the thrills may just bowl the prim couple over. The Man in the Bowler Hat is a witty comedy from one of the world's most beloved authors. Cast members were Ethan Mundt, Ashley Paladie, Kasey Mihalovic, Adam Muschler, Rachel Storey, Mitchell Jones, Laura Kramer, Jack Roessler, Anthony Paladie, and Annalise Gall. Support personnel were Ben Krause, Alexis Persons, Jessica Mueller, Abby Forbes, Catelyn Holm, Ashley Thorpe, Sadie Davis, Mariah Bell, Terrel McDermott, and Jaclyn Storey. The Saints earned previous “starred” ratings in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007.
Representing Section 7, East Central’s “starred performance” of Judah’s Daughter by Jules Tesca was directed by Kathleen M. Ebnet and Richard Ebnet. East Central, which includes the communities of Sandstone and Askov, was making its sixth festival appearance and earned its fourth “starred” rating. The school earned its other top ratings in 1989, 2002, and 2004. This production, set in late 15th-century Venice and Verona, hinges on Judah and his daughters. The story of one daughter, legitimate and raised as an orthodox Jew, and the other, illegitimate and raised as a Christian, is a family tragedy. Cast members were Stuart Lourey, Rowan Hilty, Joyce Domogalla, Colton Lourey, Dannielle Yaste, Phillip Jansen, Bailey Beckman, Keith Rolston, Rene' Nelson, Kasha Wallace, and Sami Yocum. Support personnel included Amanda Downs, Kirsten Ecklund, McKinley Larson, and Chelsea Lourey.
The Minnesota State High School League State One Act Play Festival does not involve direct competition. Judges rate the plays according to specific criteria, including pace, blocking, costuming, and projection of the play’s meaning. Each production is limited to 10 minutes of stage preparation and 35 minutes of actual performance.
The judges consult after each production and then openly critique each in front of the cast, crew, and audience. “Starred performance” ratings are determined by private balloting of the judges. One school from each of eight sections in each class gets to perform at the state level. Two hundred and eighty-one teams participated in One Act Play this season, 194 in Class A and 87 in Class AA.
Each cast and crew member involved with these three productions was also presented a Spotlight on the Arts Award of Excellence recognition pin. This is a fine arts recognition award created by Wells Fargo, the League’s premier sponsor, in cooperation with the League. The casts and crews were also awarded a handsome acrylic trophy incorporating the Spotlight on the Arts logo.
Eight Class AA troupes will present their productions on Friday, Feb. 10 at 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., and 4 p.m.
