Chances are, if you’ve been to a Bob Jones one-act, you know about the Patriot Players. The students of Advanced Production work year-round to produce two incredible shows; we develop our competition piece as a class, and in the spring we bring a time-honored classic to life. Trumbauer season is over, so that means the Advanced Production slate is chock-full! Usually, the class advances to the Southeastern Theater Conference, but this year, we’re doing things a little differently. This semester, the Patriot Players are taking two shows to the stage. 

On February 21st and 22nd, Production will debut a 50’s variety show filled with humor, music, and fun. Students got to pick the scripts themselves from a radio-play archive. Oldies songs, slapstick comedy, and outlandish commercials will be the main parts of the show. “We get to reimagine these scripts for the stage,” said Mo McCann, who played Peggy in the fall one-act. “It’ll be a fun event with a vintage feel, and we’re looking forward to performing for everyone!” This enthusiasm is a staple of the Production classroom. Every day, actors and techies alike pitch their ideas, either for the 50’s show or the next year’s one-act. The process of writing or pulling together a show can take anywhere from weeks to months, but every Production student brings their best to the table.

From April 30th to May 2nd is The Crucible, a harrowing classic about McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials. The hype in the English department is real, to say the least; Bob Jones students will have a chance to see the show during school! For many of the actors, the casting process was a lesson in connecting with literature. Ellie Cornett, who will play Elizabeth Proctor, said, “When I first read The Crucible, I didn’t give nearly enough credit to the role that Elizabeth played in the story. It wasn’t until we began preparing for auditions that I realized what a complex character Elizabeth is.” The two casts will feature JD Willis and Michael Nichols as John Proctor, Ellie Cornett and Clare Norris as Elizabeth, and Maddy Dobbs and Addie McAbee as the ruthless Abigail. 

The Patriot Players aren’t the only actors who bring amazing shows to our school. Advanced Drama also has a full season ahead of them, including the recruitment show for Patriot Expedition. Lies About High School is an annual staple where students perform vignettes for the incoming freshmen. Each class throughout the years has added a new comedy sketch to the show. Advanced Drama will also be performing a student showcase at the end of the semester. When asked about the rising stars in Beginning and Intermediate, Mrs. Davis said, “The intermediate class gets to do two one-acts, a comedic and a dramatic, so that they have experience in both before they go to the advanced level. My beginning class usually does a comedic one-act because comedy is usually more comfortable for that stage of acting. I’m excited!”

The 50’s variety show runs on Feb. 21st & 22nd, The Crucible runs from April 30th to May 2nd, and other show dates are yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more information about the drama department!