One act play cast begins rehearsals

One Act Play (OAP) co-director Jenny Scott and 22 Albany High School students are preparing for their University Interscholastic League district competition next month.

The District 8 OAP meet will be held in Stamford on Wednesday, March 6.

“This year we are performing The Fourth Ward by Amanda Guthrie,” said Scott. “I chose this play because it is newly published, and I feel it is a well-written play that our students can perform well.”

Tryouts took place before the Christmas break, and the troupe is practicing three times a week, according to Scott.

“We will be attending a OAP Festival in Clyde on Feb. 14,” Scott said. “This is equivalent to a scrimmage where an adjudicator will critique our performance.” 

The Fourth Ward is loosely based on the life of Jacob Riis, who used his invention of flash photography to capture the struggles endured by immigrant families in New York in the 1890s and early 1900s.

The play is not on the UIL play list, but Scott submitted a request and was approved to present it at the competition.

Cast members are: Jacob Riis – Braden Davis, John Nagle – Seth Hale, Aleksandrina Vasnetov – Haley Stewart, Dmitry Vasnetov – Cutter Cowart, Galya Vasnetov – Hannah Trail, Yury Vasnetov – B.J. Morris, Marina Vasnetov – Kam Browning, Babushka – Alayna Koemel, Collin McCauley – Jackson Chapman, Ava McCauley – Caroline Masters, Brigid McCauley – Cydney Nelson, Ensemble – Susie Cormack, Cameron Dacus, Cydney Nelson, and William Webb, Gang – Cameron Dacus, William Webb, and Bryson Davis, and Instructor – William Webb.

Alternates are Chris Hensley, Gerardo Rodriguez, and Tana Thompson.

Crew members include Zion Belisle, Riley Green, Brooks Neece, Taylor Scott, and Kade Everitt – Stage Manager.

Directors are Jenny Scott and Jonathan Scott.