ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS

When the Byron One Act Play Team began its rehearsals for the one act play competitions in late November, there was no expectations of making it past the subsections.
With a very difficult script to learn and an unusual one act play they would be performing,the expectations internally quite frankly weren’t very high.
“Many of us did not think that we would make it past sub-sections. Not because we thought we were bad but because we didn’t know if the judges would appreciate our untraditional play,” Christina Kelly, a cast member said.
Despite doubts, by the cast,the team performed well at the sub-sections and earned a spot in sectionals.
When they got to sectionals,the team didn’t expect that they would make the state championship.
But then it happened, the judges announced the results and Byron advanced to the state competition after winning sections.
Happy was an understatement for how they were feeling at that moment.
“When we won at sections, we went up and they read off our names individually to hand us our medals. as Denise’s name was read off we all just engulfed her in this ginormous group hug! The energy in that auditorium was truly magical, there was so much pure happiness being radiated,”Rylie Nelson,a cast member said.
For many of the cast members, finding out that they advanced to the state competition was one of the happiest days of their young lives.
“We were so shocked when we won. We never expected to make it past sections, so making it to state was so unexpected. It was one of the happiest moments of my life when I found out we were going to state,” Tessa Harmon said.
At State,the success for the team continued.
Although teams at the State don’t compete,against won and other,they are judged and critiqued in front of the judges.
The highest honor that a team can get a “Star Performance” which is when at least two of the three judges give the performance two stars.
This was the first time in the history of the school that they receive a Star Performance.
The cast is very thankful for all the support that received during the once in a lifetime journey,and especially for the support that they received from the director,Denise Ruemping.
“This journey to state has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I would like to thank everyone who has been supporting us, and most importantly thank our amazing director Denise Ruemping. Without her, we would have not gotten anywhere because she came up with all of the blocking, set, accents, and everything else,”Harmon said.