Hooch Drama Students Prepare For 2 One-Act Plays

Advanced drama students at Chattahoochee High School, 5230 Taylor Road, Johns Creek, are excited to perform two One Act plays this week for the community. Performances for the two plays begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 14 at the school’s theatre. Admission is $10.

Senior Adrian Carrasquillo, president of Georgia Thespian Troupe #7612, is in his second One Act lead role for The Insanity of Mary Girard. Acting since he was 5, he plays Steven Girard, husband of Mary in a very different role, his first as the villain. He is proud that his drama director, Haley Walter, chose to enter it in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) One-Act regional competition later this month.

"Competition with other schools really brings on the adrenaline as we perform for peers who have the same desire to perform at their very best," said Carrasquillo. He remembers how students from other schools write notes on the performance.

"It was really a nice way to see what they appreciated about our performance – I even got a marriage proposal," he added with a laugh. He looks forward to this year’s reaction as the play is so different from anything they have done. He adds "it definitely is for mature audiences, many scenes are very intense and scary."

Carrasquillo is applying to Georgia State University to major in International Relations. His interest in global issues led to his career interest of international advisor. He believes theatrical experience has helped him prepare for this career as he has gained confidence to present and interpret complex themes.

Junior Kayleigh Cook, has been performing since she can remember. She quotes her first dance teacher, Allison Polaski, saying "she started teaching me when I had a binky." For this play she is cast as Mary, an 18^th century woman placed in an Insane Asylum by her abusive husband. Similar to Carrasquillo, she found this to be a very different role, and definitely the "most physical, mentally and emotionally demanding." It requires her to portray another dimension of everything you see, hear and think. She has learned many of the issues faced in 1790 by women are still here, making her eager to bring “real life issues and problems to light” for the audience.

Cook, who has additionally participated in competitive cheer and ballroom dancing, loves the ability to join competition with acting. She is eager for the GSHA competition where she "gets to be someone else" in a role that is "critically life changing." She hopes it enables audience members to also be able to accept their own life a little bit more. Cook aspires to study musical theatre, and is looking at colleges like Carnegie Mellon and Marymount Manhattan. Competition to get into these schools is extremely tough and she appreciates the training she is receiving through Walter and her drama coach, Brenton Burgess. She also is cherishing time acting with senior Carrasquillo, knowing he has pushed her to be the best and most comfortable she can be on stage.

On a lighter note, junior Gavin Van Beveren carries the role of “Stinkerbell” in the opening One Act Play It’s a Wonderful Neverland. Van Beveren also finds his role a big change as he portrays a more rugged and masculine role of a character who deep down is a true "softy" that cares about the lives he touches. Van Beveren takes advantage of acting opportunities to build on the many friends and relationships he has gained in the acting community. He is also very active in volleyball, both at high school and on a travel club, but finds theatre as an outlet to be more “expressive and louder” than he can through athletics.

While Walter has been consumed with preparations for the One Act going to competition, she has leaned on Van Beveren to help her many of the newer actors in the program. Specifically she states "while this one act may be lighter in dramatic content it is just as challenging to actors who are newer to drama," adding that Van Beveren has been doing an incredible job with other students by leading by example - "showing them how to behave during rehearsals, how to prepare, how to get ready for the show."

Walter is very proud that CHS theatre programs provide an outlet for all interested students to be able to escape the stresses of being a student, a place where fun is had, but most importantly a place to have a strong, supportive, loving family. "We don’t know what all kids go home to…some don’t have as many friends, or luxuries….so this gives them a place." She beams recounting the feeling when students say "I found my place," adding "I’ve watched kids come out of their shells because they feel respected, appreciated and have a purpose."

Walter encourages the community to support arts education in the schools, and to "be a part of the show by taking a break and to come explore other worlds."