WHEATLAND - Wheatland High School Thespian Troupe 605, under the direction of Kalyn Krotz, is getting ready for their fall showcase at the High School auditorium, 1207 13^th Street, Nov. 17 - 18 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. The showcase is a chance for the students to perform their projects before State Thespian Festival held in Gillette in December.

The season one act is, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” adapted by Christopher Cartmill and is based on the story by Washington Irving. Written in 1830, it is considered one of the first American folktales. This one act has comical characters and a small-town love triangle, though it shows its eerie side when the tale of “The Headless Horseman” is relayed to the newly arrived schoolmaster who happens to be very superstitious. Period costumes, singing and dancing will make the audience feel like they have stepped into a time machine back to Colonial New York.

Also on the slate to be performed is a devised theatre piece, “The Folly of the Fae Folk.” Devised theatre is a category at State Thespian Festival. It is a collaborative creation of the students to address a social issue and offers a solution. “The Folly of The Fae Folk” addresses body issues as well as the lesson of your body is not your worth. The devised has mythical elves, dance, and a message about reaching your full potential. This is a brand-new creation by the Troupe and the Wheatland performances will be the debut of the show.

Damion Bohndorf plays Lord Merryweather. His character starts off closed minded, but learns to grow from the events of the action. “It has been difficult to memorize my lines, but this has helped me gain a lot of confidence in my acting ability,” explained Bohndorf. 

Individual events will also be presented showing the many facets of theatre, including musical performances, original scripts, costume construction and monologues. 

During State Thespian Festival, kids from all around the state come to perform their projects and receive support from students and critique from qualified judges. Last year, Thespian Troupe 605 won third place for their one act, “Charley’s Aunt.” Several students won awards with their individual events. Grace Hanni and Rory Winter qualified for National Thespian Festival with Musical Solo and Costume Construction respectively. With all the events combined, Wheatland High School placed second overall in the state. 

The troupe is made up of students, freshmen to senior, and they’re working hard to pull this performance together. They have been sewing, painting, singing and acting. Nov. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m., Nov. 19 at 2 p.m., are the performance dates. There are some spooky scenes, but it is a family friendly event. Come support our local budding artists. Admission by donation.