The weather outside is well below 80 degrees, typical for Texas around mid-November. Christmas commercials are beginning to play on TV, and stores already have stocking stuffers on the shelves and artificial trees on display. In keeping with this pattern, the Fairfield High School Drama Club’s Fall Production had a winter theme with the performance of “Miracle on 34th Street” this past Saturday and Sunday. 
The high school theater department organizes the performance of two plays annually: the UIL One Act play in the spring, in which students compete against other district schools in hopes of making it all the way to the state level, and the Fall Production, which is a volunteer effort designed to raise money for scholarships for deserving FHS seniors. Auditions for the One Act Play will begin next week.
“As we all know, football is a big thing in Fairfield,” director Susan Walsh said. “We are trying to spark an interest in the arts that is comparable to that.”
Directed by teachers Walsh and Jeff Wright, play was based on the story by Valentine Davies and the 20th century motion picture that has become a Christmas favorite. Cast and crew began practicing six hours a week in early September, three hours on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
“This play is about having faith,” sophomore Anna Kaye Williams said. “It is also about believing in what you think is right, even if common sense says it’s crazy.”
There were 21 regular cast members, including teacher and FHS alumnum Nanceen Hoskins. Other cast members included Jack Ezell, Payton Carter, Emma Copeland, Anna Kaye Williams, Slade Harkcom, Jordan Maciel, Cole Redmond, Kevin Johnson, Sebastian Matthews, Nadia Hoskins, Cristina Ferguson, Noah Hoskins, Linda Cain, Preston Long, Jamie Wilkinson, Matt Mooneyham, Jamesha Hatcher, Chloe Carter, and Mayra Soto. The younger FISD students filled the roles of excited children waiting in line to sit on Santa’s lap.
“To perform for a large crowd, you need energy, charisma, and you need to be able to understand your audience,” senior Mooneyham said. “Being commanding on the stage is vital to the success of your performance.”
Besides the actors, several students worked behind the scenes as sound, lighting, and crew. Four singing elves entertained the audience with carols during set changes. The crew, tech, and singing elves included Ashley Davey, Kaitlyn Niedich, Christina Ferguson, Jamesha Hatcher, Austin Frasier, Garrett Mensch, Zoe Pew, Azucena Ojeda, Mayra Soto, Ana Bonilla, Linda Cain, and Jamie Wilkinson.
“To work backstage, you need a good attention span and a certain amount of physical strength to move heavy set pieces,” drama club vice president Cain said. “You also need to be willing to step up and go on stage with lines when needed.”
Cain and junior Wilkinson did just that, both willingly taking the responsibility of a speaking part in the play on short notice due to student eligibility changes. Wilkinson played Bloomingdale-Duncan with one week of practice, and Cain played Mrs. Macy with 4 to 6 weeks of practice.
“I had to make sure the show could still go on,” Wilkinson said. “Even though I seemed like the last person to be willing to perform a speaking part, I’m glad I did.”
All money raised goes to a senior scholarship awarded annually to members of the drama club. Last year, the Fall Production raised $1,800 for the scholarship.
“Over the years, I have created so many memories with my drama family,” drama club president Payton Carter said. “Being able to do something I have a passion for and possibly gain a scholarship for it is very humbling.”
After the final cast bow but before the auditorium emptied, each child actor was surprised with a personal gift underneath the tree on stage. Each child opened their gift excitedly while the audience looked on with delight.
