Lincoln East High Theater program is setting the stage for “Epic Proportions,” their fall one act. Performances will be on November 19, 2024 at 7 pm at East in the auditorium, and December 7, 2024 for the district’s one-act competition, though the location is still unknown.
“Epic Proportions” is set in the 1930s and shines the spotlight on two brothers, Benny (played by senior Max Apel), and Phil (played by senior Jack Welstead). The brothers are working as extras on “Exeunt Omnes,” a biblical epic being shot in the deserts of Arizona. After the director quits the movie, Phil becomes the director and Benny is made the star of the show. They simultaneously form a love triangle with the assistant director of the film, Louise Goldman (played by senior Maggie Lammie), causing much comedic conflict between the brothers.
“Epic Proportions” was originally 75 minutes long, but was cut down to a mere 30 in order to be able to compete in the competition. One acts are judged in a variety of categories such as acting, production, and tech.
“We have gone three years in a row,” director Helen Cooper said. “It started with James [and the Giant Peach], and then we went for “Fire Bringer” and then we went for “Monster Calls” last year. And then we are looking to go this year. If the school has only gone to state one time in history to go four years in a row is sort of bananas.”
Putting a show together can be a long and difficult process. Practices are held every day for about two hours after school.
“Right now we have blocked all of the scenes and we’re starting to run them in different chunks so we can remember when and where everything is happening,” Claire Rooney, playing Jack, the irascible assistant director, said.
A lot of work goes into putting on a show such as this; actors playing big characters on stage require an even bigger crew to keep the show running.
“We have a cast of nearly thirty and we have a crew of nearly thirty. It’s massive,” Cooper said. “It’s a lot for me to juggle. It would be easier with a smaller cast but I think it is important to get more people involved with the program.”
Though, theater can be a lot for the actors and crew to juggle as well.
“I have been in almost every production at East theater, and I’m also in “Hadestown.” We’re double timing it, because I’m Persephone in that,” Rooney said.
The cast and crew are a diverse group. Many students in theater are also involved in show choir, speech, the musical, and other musical activities to name a few.
“They are also super busy. They are like the busiest kids in school,” Cooper said. “You can see that the kids in the theater are just over booked and the fact that they are doing as much as they are at the level that they are doing it, and they are just good kids, they are really decent human beings, it’s commendable I think.”
Be sure to check out the one-act and support East’s theater community!
