By LIBBY CLUETT
Mineral Wells High School’s Ram Theater Company is off to a robust start this season, with their first production, “Tombstone,” behind them – or is it?
“The MWHS Theatre has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform Tombstone at state convention,” announced theater supporter Beth Williams. “We are super excited and very honored. There is just one problem – money.”
The Texas State Thespian Festival, part of the International Thespian Society, takes place Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center. In order at accept the invitation, Williams said the company must raise funds for registration, travel, gas, hotel, food and the like to be able to get the company of 29 students to the festival, along with the set, props, costumes and everything that goes with the production.
For last month’s production, based on events and people surrounding the infamous 1881 shoot out at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Ariz., Ram Thespians not only learned their lines and cues, but students handmade the set and period costumes for the play,
MWHS students are on a dramatic roll. Last year, Ram Theater reignited the University Interscholastic League One-Act Play stage, reaching Class 3A regional competition for the first time on 14 years. For this, the performed “The Beggar’s Opera” and had two students named all-star cast and another as honorable mention all-star cast.
To be able to perform at the four-day state festival, high schools submit their plays for adjudication, according to Ram Theater Director Kris Allen. The ITS Troupe No. 4607 from Mineral Wells was one of 13 schools submitting their plays for review, with MWHS being the only 3A school in the mix.
After adjudication, Allen said, “Mineral Wells ranked in the top four selected to perform their play.”
If they get to the state festival, Allen said the MWHS company will be adjudicated again with the chance to take “Tombstone” to the International Festival in June, which draws troupes from across the nation as well as from Australia, South America and Europe.
In order to present “Tombstone” at the state festival, Williams said the students need public support.
“Some of the kids have paid their registration, but some families are just not able to afford the cost,” Williams said. “We have one family with two children in the play which makes it even harder.”
While at the four-day event, Allen said students will watch plays, take four workshops each day and learn from college and professionals in the theater business.
“They get to intermingle with about 3,000 theater students,” he said, adding that the festival is an intensive learning experience, focused on different aspects of the theater.
Ram Theater hopes to be able to take the entire “Tombstone” company of 29 students.
“Two years ago we took eight [students] and last year we took 14 to the state festival. For us to double that is pretty exciting, but also very expensive,” Allen said. “This is quite an honor. There are only four high schools representing the state of Texas and we are one of them.”
Top Stories
MWHS actors hope to resurrect ‘Tombstone’ at state competition
Troupe seeks financial help in hopes of sending entire company to Texas State Thespian Festival
- Top Stories
-
-
Mineral Wells Police seek owner of found cash
According to Mineral Wells police, a sum of cash was recovered in the 200 block of N.W. 6th Street on March 11.
-
Victim reports $5,000 in unauthorized debits
A stolen purse report became a forgery investigation for local police when the complainant noticed a substantial amount of money missing from an account.
-
Wet weather
It’s almost officially summer and cool-weather flowers, like pansies, are still blooming in areas.
-
Judge uses new power to rescind burn ban
County Judge David Nicklas Monday issued an order rescinding the county’s active burn ban for 72 hours.
-
Five transported in Humvee rollover Thursday evening
Emergency crews from Mineral Wells and Weatherford responded to a military vehicle rollover in the 7700 block of Wagner Road.
-
Summer reading kicks off with pep rally
Kids of all ages braved the heat Friday morning for a unique outdoor event at Boyce Ditto Library.
-
Millsap soldier sends love from Afghanistan
TARIN KOT, AFGHANISTAN – Millsap native Sgt. James Spurlock, an infantryman with 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Texas Army National Guard, is currently serving with Combined Team Uruzgan at Multinational Base - Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
-
20 tips to conserve water NOW
Imagine what it would be like to turn on the tap and not get at least a drop of water. People in some parts of the country know this does happen. They are learning how to conserve water. They know that water is a limited resource. Water shortages are now a local and regional problem. With the current drought in Palo
Pinto County, it is wise to learn how to conserve water. -
Movies in the Park continues Saturday at West City Park
Leaning Tree Church will, once more, sponsor a free event at West City Park Saturday, including the screening of “Night at the Museum.”
-
Retirement ceremony set for Flag Day weekend
Today is Flag Day and locals will have an opportunity this weekend to take part in an official flag retirement ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2399.
- More Top Stories Headlines
-
Mineral Wells Police seek owner of found cash






