by Keaton I., senior
The one act play has been a tradition at Burton for a long time. Since Mrs. Davis retired this year, Mrs. Cassell has taken over the coaching job by directing her first play Charlie Foster, by Raymond King Shurtz. She said, "Theater is a fun experience to take part in whether you have a lead role as an actor or help with set design and technical help such as light and sound."
This year's one act play is described as "a powerful play about coming-of-age and the sensitive nature of walking in someone else's shoes. This dramatization about swimming and theater tells the tale of Charlie Foster, a kid no one knew or cared about until he accidentally drowned in the river. Or was it an accident? Ten young people try to comprehend this life and death, questioning their memories and each other's," according to Dramatic Publishing, the publishers of this play.
She held auditions to see who would be the best to play each role in the play. the cast selected includes Alex C, Brooklin B., Haley R., Kelly P., Haley Q., Eden W., Carter A., Noah E., Shakira C., Dasayne S., Shamiyeh N., Elora H., Justin S., and Ashlyn W., In addition to getting cast members, she got tech/ stage people, including three seniors: Jackson Baker, Austin Quillen, Aidan Wells, plus Sam H.,
The team has practice after school four days a week. Mrs. Cassell makes the schedule relaxed with other after-school activities, so cast members can participate in both. They are practicing for the district competition on October 20 at Coeburn Middle School. Later there will be a performance for the school and the parents.
Alex Carroll, a senior on the cast, said "I think it's a good play that has lots of potential and there is going to be a lot we can do with it on stage. I hope it goes well and wish everyone on the team does their best."