Two rural Northern Minnesota schools will be competing at the Minnesota State High School League State One Act Play Festival at St. Catherine University on Thursday, Feb. 6, and Friday, Feb. 7.
The eight section champions from each class qualified for the festival.
Section 8A champion Bagley will perform an adaptation of the children's book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Section 7AA champion Hibbing will perform a version of This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing, a play about triplet sisters left in the forest by their woodcutter father reconnecting 20 years later, at 11:45 a.m. Friday in the Class 2A festival.
This is Hibbing's first time advancing to the state competition in 23 years, according to a social media post from Hibbing Schools. (Last year, students participating in One Act at Hibbing got a surprise visit from a famous, Oscar-nominated actor while rehearsing.)
"Participating in our state One Act competition has driven my students to work incredibly hard, challenge their expressive abilities, and deepen their own authenticity, perspective, and connection," wrote Megan Reynolds, Hibbing High School drama director. "Competition has been a springboard for learning, risk-taking, and collaboration."
Reynolds said the sections ended with a three-way tie for first place. The tie-breaker came down to judges' choice.
In One Act, schools can perform plays that are serious, funny or both. Performances are limited to 35 minutes, and the official company — cast and student support personnel — is capped at 20 students.
Teams are judged for "general effectiveness (which includes audience appeal), stage picture, blocking, characterization, stage business, pacing, interpretation, technical elements, and any other points that will help students improve their craft," according to the MSHSL.
Spectators can purchase tickets to attend in person.
The award ceremonies will be live-streamed at NSPN.tv around 5 p.m. each day and include pre-recorded highlights from the tournament.
