The fall theater cast is preparing for the opening night of their one-act play, “The Search for Delicious,” on November 15 at 7 p.m. Although the audience only sees the finished product, many aspects go into bringing the performance to life.

The fall theater production “The Search for Delicious” tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who journeys to find the definition of “delicious” for the prime minister’s dictionary, almost sparking a civil war. Along the way, he is aided by multiple characters who help him achieve his goal and restore peace to the kingdom. 

“We are performing ‘The Search for Delicious’, a one-act adaptation of a youth novel by Natalie Babbitt,” theater director Jelita Hopkins said. “I chose this competition piece because it allows for creative staging and full-ensemble participation. This production is unique in that it has many small featured roles, allowing the opportunity for many students to shine.”

With the ability to feature many individuals, the cast works to make the scene flow in a way that portrays the story’s emotion and message. Rehearsals allow students to learn their roles and responsibilities in the performance.

“We have rehearsal every fourth block, almost every day after school, and some Saturday rehearsals,” senior Lily Hubler said. “During rehearsal, we usually start with some warm-ups, and then Miss Perry [Hopkins] will tell us the plan for the day. [The rehearsal plan] changes depending on the day. Sometimes we will learn some new blocking, and other times, we will run through everything, and then we will sit down and she’ll give us notes.”

When Hopkins gives her students notes on the rehearsals, she also includes her ideas on adjusting lighting and sound to fit the scene. As the students learn the scenes and become more familiar with their characters, they begin drafting plans for costumes and makeup.

“People can join the class specifically to run lights and sound,” Hubler said. “By having them in the class and at most, if not all, rehearsals, we became closer and more connected as a group. Bayleigh Michael is normally the one to program the show as she has been running lights the longest and then whoever is running the lights can bring them up or down as needed. For this show, [Hopkins] gave a general idea [for costumes and makeup] as most of us play more than one character so our makeup can not be too crazy or character-specific. We often help each other with hair and makeup as some people are more proficient than others. For costume decisions, once [Hopkins] okays it, we all put on our costumes and stand at the edge of the stage so that she can ensure all the costumes flow together and don’t distract from the show. Costume and makeup decisions bring us closer together because we are all helping each other.”

The cast of this one-act shapes the production to its unique qualities and capabilities, but in the process, these productions shape the cast. Through the discipline of theater and commitment to the play and fellow cast members, students learn life skills that prepare them for adulthood.

“Theater has given me the ability to understand people better because I’m constantly around my cast mates, especially when it gets close to showtime,” senior Mollie Reeves said. “I see them more than I see my own family, and it helps me know how to interact with them when someone’s having a bad day. It’s given me a lot of empathy and built up my confidence. After doing a show and thinking about a whole production in front of you, then doing it, is a lot less daunting. Then you’re like, I just did that. So I have more confidence in myself. I can do hard things.”

Members have high hopes for the production as individuals and as a cast. Through their continuous rehearsal, the cast opens many possibilities for their production and individuals to be recognized by the public and on a larger scale such as state competitions.

“I hope ‘The Search for Delicious’ is as amazing as I think our director is going to make it,” Reeves said. “I want a really good turnout because we just won the state championship for Peter Pan. I’m hoping that more people come because not many people see the one-act in the fall. I hope this production gives us more credit in the school and helps people to come out for future musicals.”

UPDATE 10/29/2024: The Mainstage crew performed their fall one-act production “The Search for Delicious” at the Virginia Theater Association Conference last Thursday, October 24, 2024. The cast received the Technical Merit Award for Set and Dance. The cast received an honorable mention for 6th in their room and 12th overall, a first for Mainstage at this conference. Mainstage cast members Cole Harkey and Madison Gardner won Best Actor Awards. The cast is performing their production on November 15 and 16th and will compete at the VHSL Region 5C festival in February 2025.

UPDATE 11/19/2024: Mainstage Theater performed its one-act play “The Search for Delicious” at the Alan Jackson Theater on November 15th and 16th. The actors brought the story to life by staying true to their characters and constantly engaging in the scene even in moments not focused on them.

This article will be updated as the theater and mainstage performances and competitions occur.