UIL State One-Act Play Contest

Here's the score: Star player who helped lead the high school team to a state championship last year is on track for a repeat. Now, this isn't a sports story (or even an episode of Friday Night Lights), but it has all the intensity and even more of the drama – because it's the University Interscholastic League State One-Act Play contest. The school is Austin High, and its theatre program is on par with those Texas high school pigskin dynasties. Over the 17 years it's been headed by Billy Dragoo (most of that time with his wife, Annie), the Red Dragon Players have achieved national recognition – Disney approached them about field-testing its stage adaptation of High School Musical – and made the One-Act Play State finals in the 5A division now three years running. In 2009, the school's staging of Over the River and Through the Woods, co-directed by Tommy Grubbs, snagged Austin High its first state championship since 1931, and now the school has another shot at the title with the Craig Lucas comedy Reckless, which advanced from Region to State on April 23. Out in front of this effort is junior Haleigh Holt, who was named Best Actress at last year's State competition and whose turn as flighty housewife Rachel has already been recognized with Best Actress honors at the Area and Region levels and All-Star Cast honors at District and Zone. Want to cheer on these hometown thespians in their bid for a second consecutive state title? They'll perform Reckless in Session II of the 5A competition, Saturday, May 8, 7:30pm, in Bass Concert Hall, 23rd Street & Robert Dedman Drive. For more information, visit www.uil.utexas.edu/academics/drama.

You can also check out the Red Dragon Players on their home turf next week, presenting an original musical by New York writer-composer James Merillat and lyricist Ryan Stotts. Wonderland High follows a kid trying to understand his new school, where the rules make no sense. (Hint: Think Alice in ....) With hometown high schoolers this talented, who needs Glee? Wonderland High runs Thursday & Friday, May 13 & 14, and Friday & Saturday, May 21 & 22, 7pm; and Sunday, May 16, and Saturday, May 22, 2pm, at Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez. For more information, visit www.reddragonplayers.com.