Over 80 students were cast in the One Acts this year after auditions on Dec. 5.

Last year around 50-60 students were selected. Compared to last year, the drama department took a leap and increased the show by 20-30 more students.

According to sophomore Dylan Dowdy, the auditions seemed to have a larger number of students who wanted to take part in the show.

“It appeared to have many more people [this year], with a large increase of freshmen,” Dowdy said.

Although the number of students per grade was moderately even, according to drama instructor Sara Dempsey, the amount of seniors was slightly less since many of them have already experienced One Acts. The number of freshman was noticeably larger as One Acts is geared towards them.

Each grade level contributed to the growing number of students signing up for One Acts auditions. Seniors and juniors showed off their experience with their improving acting skills while freshman and sophomores arrived in larger numbers to get a better learning environment by being able to work on a role that features them.

Vashti Wix, a sophomore auditionee who got cast, noted that the students with more acting skills get to be a character in the show.

“Of course the upperclassmen got most of the roles, but [the drama department] also wants the underclassmen to be in the One Acts as well,” Wix said.

As the directors were more prepared to rehearse for this year, they were able to spend the time wisely and go through auditions exceptionally fast.  

Not all of the students got a role in the One Acts, but about 80 percent of auditionees were given a role. From 3-6 p.m., the directors flew through over 100 people.

Averaging around 16 cast members per act, it is a step up from the previous year. Tyler Lowe, a junior auditionee who has participated in the One Acts since his freshman year, acknowledged that this year’s show has a larger cast than the past few years.

“There were usually some smaller casts per act in the previous years like five to ten people,” Lowe said.

The students who signed up were judged by teachers and the show directors, who often look for how well the auditionee does at memorizing their lines as well as their abilities to act out their roles. Along with those qualifications were a few more obstacles that they had to face.

After passing, the casted students were given a role to act in the actual show.

“There is a competition which takes place when we perform it, so we can get medals and certificates and recognition for our acting skills,” Lowe said.

With the competition and the performances coming up in a month, the students and the directors will be spending after school hours to rehearse for the finale.

The One Acts show features five acts. The act “Audience” is directed by Nathen Ludahl and Devin Bailey; “The Hysterical History of the Trojan War” will be directed by Lily Cichon and Crystal Grisham; and “Landslide for Shakespeare” is directed by Arianne Melton and Amanda Brainard. The acts “Spy for a Day” will be directed by Angie Hahn and Andrew de la Paz, and

“Rejection! Or, Will Date For Food” will be directors Gabi Alfonso and Dacey McCrae.

These five acts will be presented to the public audience Jan. 23-25 at 7 p.m.