After a difficult and challenging year, the Akins Journey Theater performed its first staged play this year in late March with an abbreviated version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Shakespearean play about a fairy named Puck who makes two boys fall in love with the same girl, was cut for length to fit the time restraints of the University Interscholastic League’s One-Act play rules, which limit performances to 40 minutes. The theater department performed the play during the school day for English classes and did two evening performances, as well.

In addition to dealing with the loss of multiple theater teachers in the past two years, the theater department also had to overcome the challenge of a last-minute cast change ahead of their UIL competition performance. Despite the challenges, the cast and crew persevered through it all.

Senior Samadhi Dudich said the show was bittersweet as it was great performing again but she was sad that it was the last time in high school.

“It was bittersweet because it was great being a performer again,” she said. “But it was just really sad because it was the last time I act as a high schooler.”

Junior Richie Wright, who changed roles just a few days before the UIL performance, said Midsummer was the hardest he’s ever worked to memorize lines for a play.

“This was the hardest that I ever had worked to memorize lines,” he said “ since I had six days to learn my new lines,” he said.