As fall sports season is winding down it is time for the fine arts department to shine, as the One Act team begins their competitive season. The team has been practicing for the past three months and participated in their first event of the year at Ord on Monday.

Tuesday evening the young actors had the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a hometown crowd as they hosted a community performance in the school auditorium. The public performance is great practice for the team heading into the conference One Act competition set for Tuesday, Nov. 14.

The coach for the Callaway High School One Act team is Hannah Beck, who has been in the school district for five years. She student-taught at CHS prior to joining the staff full-time four years ago. She teaches high school English and has been part of the One Act coaching team since she came to Callaway.

For her first three years, she served as an assistant coach and took over the head coach position two years ago. This year’s production is titled “Unsound Effects”, and is about a radio station in the 1930s and the struggles of trying to keep the station afloat.

“It kind of follows a comedic and unexpected route as they get there,” Beck said.

She has 32 students in One Act this year. Though the season itself is pretty short, the team devotes a great deal of practice to honing their craft. “We start in August because we work around all of the sports schedules, so we have kind of sporadic practices for the first while,” Beck explained. “We go through Districts on Nov. 27, and then hopefully beyond.”

Obviously, with the large number of students participating in One Act, there is a great deal of overlap with other activities. Nearly 50 percent of the Callaway High School students are involved in One Act. “It’s incredible.

The kids have been really excited about it and that helps give the kids momentum,” Beck shared.

Two of this year’s senior members have been part of the One Act team all four years of high school, two have been in for three years, and one just moved to Callaway last year.

When asked how she goes about selecting a production for her team Beck explained, “If I read a play and I can see the kids that I know are on the team in the play, if I can visualize them being on stage, then I know that’s the one we’re supposed to do.”

Skylar Ellison is one of the senior members who has been on the One Act team all four years. “I just think we are a great team, and we all work together. Everyone does their own part and you get to shine in your own way. You can’t put on the One Act if there is no lights, or makeup, or set,” she said.

Ellison runs the light board and is responsible for the overhead lights. This year’s production has lighting and thunder, so she has the challenge of making sure the timing is perfect for the lightning lights and sound. “And you have to get it on time with the actors on stage. There is one judge we have every year who is a big stickler on that.”

A couple of members of the One Act team are also on the football team, which of course is still playing. One of them is Dawson Doggett, who is in his second year on the team. He said it was friends who encouraged him to join One Act, “but it’s very fun too”, he added.

This year he plays Benny the soundman, who he describes as “the funny guy in the play”. He admits he has a lot of lines to learn this time, but said he is having a lot of fun doing it.

Maggie Birkel is in her third year on the One Act team, her first year with an acting part and it happens to be the leading lady. Prior to this year, she did hair and makeup. “I decided to try something new and auditioned. If I didn’t get a part it was no big deal,” Maggie shared. “I’m kicking myself for not acting earlier, it’s really fun.”

Joey Sallach is another football-playing member of the One Act team, who has also been on the team all four years. The team qualified for state during his freshman year. He explained what made him get involved in One Act with all of the other activities he participates in.

“It’s just the sense of community. It’s a whole different atmosphere than a sport,” Sallach explained.

This year Sallach’s role is a handyman who ends up acting as a fake cop to catch a robber. “I have some very entertaining parts of the play,” he added.

If you missed the public performance you do still have an opportunity to watch the team perform, as the competitions are open to the public. Check the Callaway Public School Facebook page for the time and location of the conference One Act on Nov. 14.