by FHS Sophomore Eagle Beat staff Ivy Wren and Colten Johnston
FHS One Act Play cast and crew will present “The Giver” to public audiences at the high school auditorium Saturday, February 28 at 6pm and Sunday March 1 at 3pm.
They will take the play to district competition in Malakoff on Tuesday, March 3.
Admission for the public performances is $3 for students and $5 for adults.
They will also present the play Friday at a school wide assembly.
“Our One Act Play cast and crew have been working with incredible focus and commitment,” teacher Rebecca Sanchez said. “This production has challenged us technically and emotionally. I’m proud of the depth and growth I’m seeing in our students this year. We’re excited to bring a powerful story to the stage, and I can’t wait to see their hard work come alive in competition.”
The cast and crew have been working on the play since the semester began.
“As an actor competing in his 7th and last One Act Play, the competition means so much to me,” senior Mason Edwards said. “One Act brings out the best in people. It challenges actors to draw on unnatural skills, technicians to pay elite attention, and crew members to be selfless.”
The cast is as follows: junior Kimmykay as Father; junior Dania Azuara as Mother; sophomore Anna Allen as Lily; sophomore Owen Lane as Jonas; junior Adalyn Peterson as Asher; sophomore Jordan McDaniel as Fiona; freshman Aaliyah Tran as The Chief Elder; senior Mason Edwards as The Giver (Old Man); sophomore Jazlynn Varela as Rosemary; and juniors Bella Falkner and Evelyn Fultz as Ensemble.
“Whenever I’m playing Lily, I feel like I’m not held to the expectations that I am in real life,” Allen said. “OAP gives me a chance to be something other than myself, as well as a fun way to spend time with my friends.”
The crew is as follows: senior Bailey Holland on sound; sophomore Paisley Robinson on lights; freshman Caiden DeFrance on lights; sophomores Nidhi Kalyanji, Vanessa Martinez, and Jonathan Ramirez on stage.
“I enjoy being in OAP because I get to see the story come to life,” Kalyanji said. “I like being a part of the crew because I get to do the stage lights which make the play have an even better dynamic and storyline.”
Spanish teacher Rebecca Sanchez is the director, assisted by Spanish teacher Mayra Soto and English teacher Kathie Maciel.
“One Act Play taught me simple skills such as projecting my voice and being aware of my stage and body presence,” Edwards said. “However, it has taught me deeper lessons, too. It forces you to work as a team since there are no individual qualifications to the next level and every role has a crucial importance in the production.”
