Nerves and forehead perspiring, students wait anxiously to go next into the spotlight and perform their monologues for UIL; the University Interscholastic League.
Theater UIL is a competition in which schools compete through their performance with other schools in a one-act play.
“It’s a time for students to have the opportunity to put their best talent forward in terms of competition,” senior Katrina Agudo said. “It’s an experience unlike any other, where you don’t just grow as an actor, you grow as a person.”
To audition, students prepare two contrasting monologues, such as classical comedic or contemporary dramatic.
According to Agudo auditions can be nerve-wracking.
“The atmosphere is pretty tense, but you have to approach them with confidence or else you might psyche yourself out,” Agudo said. “But you’re totally allowed to be nervous. If you are not, you don’t care about the work you’re doing.”
Senior Alex Piñeda agrees with Agudo but thinks the real competition lies elsewhere.
“They are nerve-wracking but I don’t think they’re too cut throat,” Piñeda said. “The real competition is against the other schools.”
The plays chosen for UIL are full-length plays of one and a half to two hours that are cut down to 40 minutes. The play is directed by theater teachers; Maureen Siegel and Christy Moss and speech and debate teacher; Jesus Valles.
According to Siegel, the competition can become very rigorous.
“Since the play is cut short. The students really have to know the play inside and out, and that’s very challenging” Siegel said. “We go up against excellent programs. The caliber of the other schools competing is fierce. That’s why we have to pick the best of the best of our students.”
This year the Akins Journey Theater has chosen to present the theatrical production Orpheus and Eurydice as their competition piece.
The production is a retelling of the Greek myth written by Sarah Reuhl.
The play is about Orpheus and Eurydice; a couple that falls in love and marries. On their wedding day Eurydice is bitten by a viper and sent to the underworld. Orpheus goes to the underworld to retrieve her but finds himself making a deal with the lord of the underworld, Hades. The deal is he can walk Eurydice out from the underworld, but he must not turn around to look at her until they get out, otherwise she’ll disappear.
Students were notified days after auditions if they advanced to competition.
“I was super stoked,” Piñeda said. “I literally screamed my head off when I read my name on the cast list.
Both Piñeda and Agudo advanced to competition. Piñeda got the lead role as Eurydice and Agudo is Loudstone, which is a part in the chorus.
“I felt really good when I found out, I was so honored to be part of an amazing cast,” Agudo said.
Other roles include senior Jose Maldonado as Lord of Hades, senior Justin Rosales as the father of Eurydice and sophomore Austin Scully as Orpheus.
The competition will be held in Bowie on March 22nd and then presented in the Akins Theater during the week of March 25th.
