There were 180 class 2A schools competing statewide in the 2024 One-act Play (OAP). As of last week 24 remained in competition – with the theater department of Alba-Golden High School among them.  

For the first time in corporate memory, Alba-Golden is readying for regional competition. Next Thursday the Red Curtain Company will stage their entry ‘The Book of Everything’ at Grayson College Denison Campus with the hopes of being one of the eight schools selected for the state finals in Austin.

Theater arts teacher Mandy Whitecotton attributes this success to her 36 members of the OAP traveling crew.

She offered, “This group is just very, very dedicated. They challenge me as much as I can challenge them, and they are extremely responsible to each other and the arts.”

That process of staging a OAP begins long before the fall semester starts, as Whitecotton contemplates the  selection of possible plays to produce and tries to match the collective personality of her theater students with the nature and intent of the play. 

What follows is a lot of brainstorming. Whitecotton considers options for interpretation of the play which she will introduce to her students. The OAP season begins in January. 

Once the introduction of the play is done, it spawns a healthy exchange with the theater arts students about how to best represent the imagery on stage. Whitecotton and her troupe use input from clinicians who advise the arts program, offering unfettered advice and feedback.  

‘The Book of Everything’ by Les Humphreys is a play which uses the voice of a 9-year old boy, Thomas, (and his expansive imagination) as he deals with a dysfunctional family. The storyline is serious – as abusive environments always are – but the method which is used by Thomas to deal with the stresses highlight a good message and make the subject easier to digest.

Last week in Caddo Mills, the cast and crew were among six schools competing for three spots to go from area to regional competition. As the six groups were gathered in the auditorium to receive notification, Alba-Golden was the first name announced. 

Whitecotton explained what next transpired, “We have a custom of decorum in the theater world for such occasions, but it was such an emotional moment that there was a little emotion demonstrated at the announcement of our selection. We quickly had to “shhhhsh” the group.”  

In a year of amazing accomplishments at the small school, Alba-Golden has added a historic accomplishment with the OAP. Regardless of the results of the regional competition, the OAP troupe has already set a new standard.

As Whitecotton explained, “For anyone who is concerned about the aptitude, intelligence and fortitude of this young generation, I can share that they amaze me every day. They are extremely dedicated, mature, and they do care.” 

At the area contest the troupe earned the following honors: All-Star Crew- Alex Reyes, All Star Cast- Hunter Whitecotton, Honorable mention All-Star Cast.