Last week, the Frenship High School One Act Play team dominated at the Bi-District Competition and beat out the other six schools for the title of champions. The group's continued success at competition showcases their ability to adapt and perform.  

Tre John, the Frenship High School Theatre Director, shared that the group made some strategic edits to their performance between the district and bi-district competitions. Despite the tight turnaround and having only one or two run-throughs, the students locked in, delivering showstopping performances. 

The group's play is Silent Sky, which tells the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, an early 1900s astronomer who worked at Harvard as a human computer, mapping stars without receiving scientific credit. Denied access to the telescope, she defies limitations and discovers the changes in Cepheid stars—an insight that transforms astronomy. As she pursues her passion, her relationships with family, colleagues, and love interest Peter Shaw are tested. Silent Sky is a moving tale of determination, discovery, and the human touch that makes life under the vast sky beautiful and timeless.   

In addition to securing the title of Bi-District Champions, several actors earned individual recognition for their outstanding performances. Drake Cagle was honored with the prestigious Best Performer award, while Riley Whipkey earned a spot on the All-Star Cast. Jaida Christy and Shelby Stidham also received accolades with Honorable Mention All-Star Cast awards. 

John expressed how proud he was of the students for their bi-district performance and their unity as a group.  

“Even more than the awards, this group works really well together and supports each other,” said John. “They accommodate each other's weaknesses, and accept each other for who they are, and that makes it easier for all of them to do the things they do well, even better when the pressure is on.”  

The team is diligently fine-tuning their performance to bring this incredible story to life. They will face off against some of the best shows in Texas, including last year's runner-up at the UIL State Championship, as they take the stage for the next round of competition. 

The Frenship One Act team will be performing as a part of the Frenship Showcase of the Visual and Fine Arts this Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. in the FHS Performing Arts Center. The team will compete in the Area One Act Competition on April 12, at Abilene Wiley High School.