Loading ...Local Schools Set for One Act State Finals
What happens when an old bachelor realizes he no longer wants to marry his young fiancée? How do strangers at a bus stop help a young man who is convinced he is drowning? What transpires when a healthcare worker transmits the HIV virus to a patient? What happens when the women of Shakespeare’s plays come together in a single production? These are a few of the topics that will play themselves out on stage during the 2010 State One Act Play Festival.
Scores of the state’s most promising actors and actresses will take to the stage performing 16 one act plays this Thursday and Friday, Feb. 11 and 12, at St. Catherine University’s O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul during the 62nd annual festival.
Park Rapids Area leads all qualified schools by making its 25th festival appearance, while Anoka, which is making its 20th appearance, is the leader among Class AA schools. Sartell-St. Stephen is the only school making its debut appearance.
Thursday’s festival-opening production will be The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Anoka High School and the day concludes with Neo-Futurist Plays from Too Much Light Makes the Baby go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes) by Centennial High School. The other selections to be presented on Thursday by Class AA schools are Agnes of God, Patient A, A Merry Regiment of Women, 4 A.M., The Orphan Train, and Aftermath.
The curtain opens on Friday with Asylum by Foley High School and the day’s concluding play will be The Forced Marriage by Mora High School. The other Class A productions scheduled on Friday are The Swimmer, The Whole Shebang, Blue Lila Rising, The Diviners, Freak, and The Serpent.
The plays are limited to no more than 35 minutes, following a maximum 10-minute stage setup. Total cast and crew cannot exceed 20 students.
It is a festival — not a competition. However, each production will be judged and publicly critiqued immediately following each performance. Each cast will attempt to achieve an exceptional rating known as a “starred performance.” In 2009, for example, seven of the 16 plays, three from Class AA and four from Class A, were awarded “starred performance” ratings.
The Spotlight on the Arts Award of Excellence will also be presented at the 2010 festival, a unique form of recognition for fine arts participants created by Wells Fargo, the League’s premier corporate sponsor, in cooperation with the League. Each cast member and crew member of schools earning a “starred performance” rating will receive a handsome acrylic trophy incorporating the Spotlight on the Arts logo.
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The Class A schools participating this year (including number of appearances and * starred performance years) are: Foley (fourth; * in 2005); St. Charles (eighth; * in 2003, ’04, ’06, and ’07); Park Rapids Area (25th; * in 1972, ’75, ’76, ’78, ’79, 1982, 1991, ’93, ’94, 2000, and ’09); St. Peter (fourth; * in 1995 and ’96); East Central (fifth; * in 1989, 2002, and ’04); Bagley (second); Pipestone Area (sixth under this name; * in 2005; Pipestone made seven additional appearances between 1951 and 1975, earning a * in 1952, ’53, and ’54); and Mora (third; * in 1999).
The Class AA schools participating this year (including number of appearances and * starred performance years) are: Anoka (20th; * in 1991, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’04, and ’05); Eastview (sixth; * in 1998, 2002, ’03, ’07, and ’09); Minnetonka (sixth; * in 1969, 2003,’06, ’08, and ’09); New Ulm (ninth); Cambridge-Isanti (second under this name; two additional appearances as Cambridge in 1953 and 1981); Sartell-St. Stephen (first); Eagan (16th; * in 1992, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ;96, ’97, ’98, 2000, ’01, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08); and Centennial (third; * in 2003 and ’06).
Here is the schedule of the performances:
Class AA — Thursday, Feb. 11
Section School Play Time
5 Anoka The Beauty Queen Of Leenane by Martin McDonagh 9:15
1 Eastview, Apple Valley Agnes of God by John Pielmeier 10:00
6 Minnetonka Patient A by Lee Blessing 11:00
2 New Ulm A Merry Regiment of Women by Rae Shirley 11:45
7 Cambridge-Isanti 4 A.M. by Jonathan Dorf 1:30
8 Sartell-St. Stephen The Orphan Train by Jay Patterson 2:15
3 Eagan Aftermath by Erik Jensen & Jessica Blank 3:15
4 Centennial, Circle Pines Neo-Futurist Plays From Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes) by Various Authors 4:00
Class A — Friday, Feb. 12
Section School Play Time
5 Foley Asylum by Jerome McDonough 9:15
1 St. Charles The Swimmer by F. Xavier Hogan 10:00
6 Park Rapids Area The Whole Shebang by Rich Orloff 11:00
2 St. Peter Blue Lila Rising by Sheila Callaghan 11:45
7 East Central, Finlayson The Diviners by Jim Leonard, Jr. 1:30
8 Bagley Freak by Angela Hill 2:15
3 Pipestone Area The Serpent by Jean Claude Van Itallie 3:15
4 Mora The Forced Marriage by Moliere 4:00
The public is invited to attend the 2010 Minnesota State High School League One Act Play Festival. Admission is $5.00 per two-play session for students and adults, and there are four sessions per day. A daily pass is available for $15.00 per day.
O’Shaughnessy Auditorium is located at 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul.