CHS Theater Group goes to State- Level Competition with Student Written Piece

Elaine Webb
November 2021

Environment Pre-Show: Frantically looking for shoes, the smell of too much hairspray,
actors trying to find shoes, actors change outfits. Audience: Everyone is masked-up.
All audience is chattering, finding seats both in the seminars and the front row. All
students must have at least one seat between themselves and another person. These
kids have been waiting to perform for several months. They have already competed
twice and are planning on performing the show two more times before competition.

INTERVIEW 1: Girl’s Dressing Room: Joci Shelton (writer), Natalie Millier (actor),
Makayla Witten (club director/sponsor)
Details: 9: 35am November 22, 2021
Q: What drew you to writing this show?
A: Having a new time period of Taming of the Shrew. Focusing on women showing
their independence in the 1920’s reflects the idea of taming of the shrew and the
independence sought by Katherine

Q: did you struggle finding the time to coordinate to write the show? How did you time
manage while focusing on schoolwork?
A: No not at all. “We spent very few times” Edits happened during table reads and
rehearsals in the beginning process

Q: As leaders of the Thespian Troupe, what has been the biggest challenge of getting
the entire season of shows started off?
A: Pushing shows back because of being ready, COVID becoming a problem. “We were
grasping for straws at first. Its also difficult knowing that we could get shut down at
any moment

Q: How does COVID-19 impact the way you are performing and rehearsing shows?
A: Sense of urgency and appreciation. We appreciate this as much as we can because
we never know when it’s the last time we get to do it. It also creates a lot of tension
because of that.

Q: When will you hear results for States?

A: DECEMBER 11

Q: Does acting in a show you wrote yourself change the way you act compared to your
past roles?
A: It makes it more authentic and emotionally driven

Q: What shows can I expect to see on the CHS stage next semester?
A: Jan- The crucible
“This side of heaven” “Willy Wonka” “The mouse trap” and senior directed one
acts

Q: When can I see this show?

A: CATCH THIS SHOW ON December 8 at 7pm at CHS

Q: How many other schools are you competing against?

A: Three

INTERVIEW 2:DRESSING ROOM: NINA (cast) member regarding the rest of the theater
season. Inside the women’s dressing room. Approximately 11am

Q: What is the most challenging part of performing in COVID-19 environment?

A: Having to wear masks. To rehearse with masks. A lot of sickness.
Q: What has it been like working directly with the people who wrote the show?
A: Its great. All of them are great and nice people. Its better when you have to person
who wrote the show with you. They gave birth to the characters.

Q: Have you ever gone to states before with the troupe?

A: No. I’ve never done this. I’m a freshman

Q: Do you know how long its been since TROUPE 3070 has won a state level
competition?
A: Nope. Its been five years

Q: If you were to be told right now that you won state comp, how would you react?
A: I would be very ecstatic. I’ve never won anything. To win something with the
people I adore would be amazing!

Sources:

VHSL Competition Records and Rubric: Christiansburg High School has never won a
state competition in 5 years. There are six levels of division in the state of Virginia.
Students are not judged according to the play itself, but how well they act out the play.
If writing was terrible but the actors still portrayed the needed emotion, that is perfectly
find. https://www.vhsl.org/forms/
MCPS Covid Restrictions- Christiansburg High School numbers of those tested positive
have significantly increased between the previous school year and today. But because
it is still apart of the larger MCPS area, if any school gets shut down for covid, all
schools are shut down from covid. 2020-2021 year had 25 prior positive tests at CHS
and the 2021-2022 year so far has had 48. Overall though, schools outside of CHS
have decreased slightly in COVID-19 rates.
https://www.mcps.org/back2school/c_o_v_i_d_protocols/c_o_v_i_d_data

ARTICLE- When schools in theater competitions are fighting for a monetary prize and
scholarships, it becomes more cutthroat than it is in VHSL. In other areas, plays are
chosen because of their attractiveness to the judges and if a play doesn’t score high
enough, sometimes that will reflect in how much budget they get.
https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2018/5/21/are-theatre-competitions-helping-
or-hurting-high-school-theatre-programs