By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
Okarche High School speech and drama students are the best in the state again, winning the Class 4A One-Act Play championship last weekend.
The school has won the state title several times over the years, most recently in 2016 and three times before in 2010, 2004, and 1989.
It was not an easy play the students performed. Antigone Now was a production for a Greek play in a modern setting.
“The judges liked the idea of doing Greek theatre, which is really hard, in a modern setting,” OHS senior Katie Bomhoff said.
Sara Bomhoff called the precarious play a “feat” to perform as a contemporary production.
The students began researching Greek theatre at the end of the last school year and starting reading through the script over the summer. By August they started rehearsing lines. Students had to coordinate different class schedules to make it work and spent six weeks going over the lines.
Actors had to complete character analyses for their roles and “dig into the role,” Katie said.
Katie, Sara and Robert Bomhoff are all seniors this year and said they will miss One-Act.
“I love One-Act for so many reasons…becoming someone else,” Katie said.
Sara agreed.
“I like putting myself into a role and the moment you’re on stage with the audience…that feeling,” she said.
Robert Bomhoff plans to attend college and pursue an acting career. He returned last week from an audition in Oklahoma City for AMDA, the American Musical and Drama Academy in New York City and Los Angeles.
Katie, Robert and Sara received all-state recognition from One-Act judges as three of the outstanding performances of the day.
Included in the cast were Carsyn Taylor, Matt Carney, Jaxcey Beauchamp, Kenzie Beard, Harley Dunkin, Lyric Hickok, Bridget Himes, Mikaila Kraus, Abigail McIlvain, Emily Neuenschwander, Jacilyn Pannell, Mackenzie Schneiter, Connor Bomhoff, Chase Hufnagel, Chloe Meacham, Derek Mueggenborg, Darren Rayburn, Jack Schroeder, Michael Smoot, Emily Hawk, Angelica Mojica, Kaylea Steelman, and McKenzie Stewart.
Lyndal Westmoreland directed the play.
