Be a part of the show

Tuesday night I took in the annual Fall Showcase put on by the Hot Springs County High School Drama Club, getting a look at what the students are taking to the State Drama Festival next month.

To say I was in awe would be a drastic understatement. Watching the individual and duo drama pieces, as well as the musical performances was incredible, and the applause the students received was well-deserving, though I wish it could’ve been more — more seats full, more performance time, more of everything. The energy and talent brought to that stage made me laugh, tear up, feel outrage and, among it all, really think about issues in our world and how they can be interpreted.

Following a short intermission came a performance of their one act play, The Lottery. I initially came to the show thinking I’d be out in the audience through the performance, so it was a nice change to hear it announced the show would be done in more of an “arena” setting in which the audience sits on the stage surrounding the action. For me, it brought back memories of watching friends perform for college classes in the small theater dubbed the Black Box.

This closeness to the action provides the opportunity to better see multiple actions happening at once, and it almost feels as if one has become a player in the production, especially considering the source material.

The students will take to the stage again on Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m. each night, and I believe it’s worth taking a couple hours to see the hard work they’ve put in to their performances. Being on stage with the students rather than just watching from out in the crowd is certainly an experience that doesn’t come along often, and one we should all take.