As the curtain rises on the spring semester, Aledo Player’s One Act Play is already gearing up for another exciting season, with auditions taking place on Dec. 11.
Unlike past years, the 2024 One Act Play season will feature two productions — the official UIL One Act Play and a Non-UIL show. Both productions will perform in separate competitions, giving students more opportunities to showcase their talents.
However, with the upcoming season, students are beginning to shift their focus from the fun fall musical to the intense semester ahead.
“I’m one of the people that tries to focus too much on the fun aspect and not the learning aspect,” senior Mason Steele said. “But what this ultimately is, while we are here to have fun, it is a learning experience. I want to continue this through college and maybe even as a career. I think I have to focus a little bit more.”
Acting auditions are structured to include read-throughs of selected scenes. While it’s optional to audition with a partner, it is heavily encouraged by director Coleman Chapell. The process mirrors the auditions for last year’s fall show, Epic Proportions. Technical crew applicants will also audition by showcasing a technical skill they are proficient in. After the audition, students are scheduled for call backs on Dec. 14 after school. However, it is relatively unknown what the process for the second part of the audition process will look like.
“I’ll be honest with Chappell. I don’t think auditions have ever gone the same way for any show,” senior Lucas Steele said. “Because the first show we auditioned for was Epic Proportions, our play. We just chose partners and came in and read a whole scene that felt relatively normal. For Little Shop of Horrors, we came in, we sang, and suddenly I got called back for Oren, the dentist.”
For the underclassmen, the stakes feel higher, with many hoping to secure a spot in the UIL production. However, many have described the supportive environment that has uplifted them in the hours leading up to the audition.
“The way people trust each other, it’s like no one’s been left behind,” freshman Jacob Turner said. “Everyone’s included in it. No matter what, everyone will always make you feel like you’re family.”
Rehearsals for both productions are set to begin in the spring semester following winter break. The UIL One Act Play will perform at District on March 27-28, with the ultimate goal of advancing to the State competition in Austin on May 20. Whether veteran performers or first-time participants, students are stepping into the spotlight, ready to make this season unforgettable.
