Transcript Staff

At 7 p.m. today and Friday in the Norman High School Theatre, the NHS Competitive Acting Squad will present seven original one-act plays for the public. General admission is $5, with no advance sales.

All plays were written by juniors in the NHS AEGIS English class, and competitive acting students direct, enact and technically produce the plays, making for an evening of entertainment totally driven by students. Play synopses, casts and crew are as follows:

"Gracey," by Emma Hunsaker deals with the after-effects of a tragic traffic accident. Cylie Hall directs the cast of Hannah Porter, Nora Springer, Kassie Dawson, Bridget Burns, Laurel Elliot-Olkinetzky, Taylor Finley, Jill Sodowsky and Sarah Lobban.

"Vanity," by Miranda Shaughnessy and Kristiana Baez dramatizes the lethal social problem of teen anorexia. Jill Sodowsky directs, with Clare Springer, Jonathan Phillips, Katherine Whalen, Andrew Adams, Chrissy Low, Colleen Parrish and Kelsey Tidwell in the cast.

"The Effects of Dust" explores the pained father-daughter relationship of a family shattered by the Dust Bowl. Chris Hamburger directs the cast of Abby Barwick-Snell, Ryan Harris, Colleen Burns, Toby Parkison, Jonathan Phillips and Andrew Adams.

"The Insanity Play," a comedy by Sarah Lobban, takes an "up close and personal" view of a television talk show which books unusual guests. Andrew Adams directs, with Cylie Hall, Chris Hamburger, Alex Zabel, Ryan Harris and Kelsey Tidwell in the cast.

"No Friends but the Mountains," by Julie Halterman, examines a Kurdish family's tragedy as they flee ethnic cleansing in Iraq. Clare Springer directs the drama, with a cast including Ranya Forgotson, Abby Barwick-Snell, Jill Sodowsky, Rebeka Morales, Philip Parrish, Clayton Blosser, Nicky Halterman, Andrew Adams, Jonathan Phillips and Marie Skubik.

"Still That Girl," by Ella Rhodes, explores the relationship of a teenager and her abusive boyfriend. Jonathan Phillips and Alex Zabel co-direct the cast of Colleen Parrish, Sarah Colijn, Micah Smith, Madeleine Milton, Philip Parrish and K'reen Dawson.

Finishing the evening on a comic note is "Quest 49: The Ultimate Supremacy" by Kelsie Brooks. Sarah Colijn directs the whacky story of a math and science "magnet school" as the rival "gangs" battle for honors in a math contest. Cast includes Micah Smith, Philip Parrish, Marie Skubic, Chris Hamburger, Toby Parkison, Clayton Blosser, Sarah Lobban, Chrissy Low, Andrew Adams, Alex Zabel, Laurel Elliot-Olkinetzky, Rebeka Morales, Katherine Whalen, K'reen Dawson and Taylor Finley.

The crew includes Dr. Betsy Ballard, directing advisor; Kasey Harrison, technical advisor; Clare Springer, stage manager; and Abby Barwick-Snell and Taylor Finley, assistant stage managers.