They scurried onto the pitch-black stage prepared to run through their lines. A stage manager cued to brighten the lights and students got into character. On October 9 and 10, theatre students arranged their first one act of the year. They rehearsed  lines and practiced blocking, when actors were directed where to move throughout the performance.

“We’re doing student directed one acts that were written by us that we’re taking to districts to compete in,” senior director Storm Smith said. “They let us perform it, so we can actually hear it and edit our plays.”

With districts on the way, these rehearsals were the time to perfect everything for the performance, which took place on October 11-13. These performances allowed students to make note if their one acts made sense for the upcoming competition.

“Wanting to please everyone and make everything run smoothly is the hardest part,” freshman stage manager Molly Asmussen said. “Even though that’s not going to happen, you just have to know that we’re still a cast and whatever happens we’re still performing. It’s just stressful knowing that at any time anything could go wrong.”

Rehearsals become a handful at times with everyone doing a different job. However, these varying roles helped produce the performance. Each student relied on one another to remember their lines, and if someone made a mistake, there were others to help out.

“You learn who everyone is, so you become better friends with them,” senior historian Damiana Alicea said. “If someone messes up, you’re able to bounce off of them because you’re now friends with them.”

For students, theatre has impacted and encouraged them to be leaders to new students in the program.

“This is my first real leadership position, and I’m used to following so now I sort of have to adapt that mindset,” president junior Ethan Crane said. “Regardless of how well you’re predisposed to lead other people, it always gets better with experience, which I desperately need.”