The theater UIL One Act cast and crew will perform “Mary Shelley” at the Region level of the One Act competition on April 13 at the University of Texas at Arlington.

“Mary Shelley” advanced through the Zone level of the competition March 19. After receiving criticism from a judge, the cast and crew made adjustments to the show prior to District. The show advanced through District held at Hebron on March 22. The cast and crew continued working on their show in preparation for Bi-District, the next round of competition.

“‘Mary Shelley’ is about the woman who wrote Frankenstein,” senior Joseph Hoffman, who plays Percy Shelley, said. “Our cutting focuses on her relationship with Percy Shelley, and his influence on her family and her writing. There are a lot of parallels between Shelley and Frankenstein, so it’s really interesting to see it all culminate on stage.”

“Mary Shelley” advanced though Bi-District on March 28, placing first. The theater UIL One Act cast and crew performed “Mary Shelley” at the Area level of the One Act competition on April 3 at The Colony High School, and placed third.

“I’m super excited and really proud of all of the hard work that everyone has put into the show,” senior Samantha Herndon, who plays Jane, said. “Seeing it all pay off is what makes it really worthwhile, and I’m really honored to be able to keep competing.”

The One Act cast won a number of awards at Zone: junior Stacey Thomas winning All Star Crew,  senior Audrey McGuane, junior Kaenon Stockglausner, junior Stacey Thomas, senior Taylor Willis, and senior Logan Wynn winning Outstanding Crew overall, seniors Andrew Hardaway and Maddie McPherson receiving Honorable Mention All Star Cast, seniors Caitlin Kresta and Samantha Herndon sinning All Star Cast and senior Joseph Hoffman winning Best Actor.

“The hardest, and most interesting part is that these are real people,” senior Maddie McPherson, who plays Fanny, said. “We researched and really got into how they were as people. We wanted to truly live up to who they were.”

At District, Thomas again won All Star Crew, senior Maddie McPherson won Honorable Mention All Star Cast, senior Joseph Hoffman won All Star Cast, and senior Caitlin Kresta won Best Actress. At Bi-District, junior Kaenon Stockglausner won All Star Crew, senior Samantha Herndon won Honorable Mention All Star Cast, senior Maddie McPherson won All Star Cast, and senior Caitlin Kresta won Best Actress.

“We get so caught up in the story of Frankenstein,” Kresta, who plays Mary Shelley, said. “I really wanted the audience to leave knowing the intelligent mind behind the story, how she was a powerful woman, and ahead of her time. I want them to feel like they know this person, Mary Shelley.”