The State Championship

Divide all the schools in a state the size of Texas into small groups of eight to sixteen. Tell the teacher to select a strategy and plan, and have the team at a designated location at a specified time to compete in a playoff format with the object being to advance to the next level of competition. The end objective will be the final competition for the state championship.

To most Texans that is the description of the state playoffs for the state football championship. The description above, however, is the same in Texas for the theatre competitions of One-Act Plays beginning in late March with a culmination at the finals in May.

Each school in Texas will have the option to select a script, and the director will work the script to a maximum performance time of exactly 40 minutes. One second over that limit disqualifies the show from the competition. Directors then select their best performers and technicians to be the competition company. It starts with the same fire and determination of the reigning football state champions defending their title, but becomes intense and very grueling as the weeks progress and director critiques go from the general blocking assignments to "don't turn your head, just cut your eyes toward him!" or "use your left hand for that gesture and make it slower and more contemplative". Minute details become deciding factors in the way a judge will read the performance. Critical moves and small, intricate gestures can be the difference between going home or advancing to the next level of competition.

I recently was privileged to enjoy one of these competitions in the Houston, Texas, area. Four schools answered the call of the second week of competition. The actors and technicians from each school were given 10 minutes (on a backstage judge's stopwatch) to set their stage and props and prepare for the performance. The lights in the audience were faded, the curtain rose, and the stopwatch again clicked the start of the performance. Forty minutes later the curtain dropped (finished or not) and the cast and crew were given 10 minutes to clear and sweep the stage for the next show.

WOW! You immediately think that theatre can not be any good under those strenuous time constraints. I strongly disagree. I was very entertained with superb performances by four very professional-level shows produced by high school students. The variety from light farce to heavy drama made a full evening of theatre, and introduced the audience to some spectacular theatrical talent that have some tremendous potential in the business.

A short break followed the last show as the judge collected his notes and thoughts on the barrage of theatre he had just witnessed. He then returned to announce the individual awards for the evening including an Honorable Mention and All Star cast of eight performers each. He then announced his choice for the Best Actor and Best Actress of the entire evening. Then the tension became palpable as the two advancing schools were announced. Two would advance and two would return home to perform for their schools the following week.

I was prepared for the bands, cheerleaders, and screaming fans at this point. The first advancing show was announced and I got the screaming fans, the cast and crew and all the supporters of the audience for the school. The scene repeated itself with the next show announced. The natural impression at this point is the evening was over, but the judge then sat for 20 to 30 minutes with each school, advancing or not, and explained what he saw and why he decided the way he did about their specific performance. He explained the good and the bad points that comprised his choices. For the two advancing companies he offered his suggestions to the director to work on for the next competition. Then he opened the discussions for the performers to ask him questions about their performance.

This was for the audience, an exceptionally entertaining evening. For the participants, the evening was chilling, exciting, and ended in an educational exchange that would help them develop the skills and techniques to improve their talents. This venue offers educational opportunities even to the audience with the critique to the companies. This was educational theatre at its finest!

Congratulations to all the shows that participate in this format, for much will be learned from the participation. Surprisingly, the advancement to the next level becomes only a part of the experience of the Texas University Interscholastic League One Act Play Contest Season.