Bison Theatre competed at Teague High School Tuesday in the district 20-AAA OAP contest. Despite having to replace an actor at the last minute due to illness, the company was awarded several individual awards and will advance to bi-district later this month.

The last 24 hours before the contest were full of challenges,” director Melonie Menefee said. “One of our actors was ill, so we had to shuffle parts around and bring in someone brand new. It was nerve-wracking, but it all worked out.”

The group was awarded Best Technical Crew as well as an honorable mention acting award for Nicollette Arabie and All Star Cast awards for Billy Duncan and Emma Cocking. In addition, stage manager AnnMarie Hadley was awarded All Star Tech.

“I am incredibly proud of the job the group did,” Menefee said. “This show has been challenging, and they have been instrumental in the way it has turned out.”

Sunday afternoon practices each week, two clinics and a lock-in practice all came together to create the show the group put on stage for the contest. 

“We have been practicing since the beginning of January every Sunday,” senior Emma Cocking said. “We have been preparing and perfecting our blocking and our diction.”

The group will continue to work to change and approve the show for the next level of competition.

“The feeling of advancing and the preparation taken has driven us to do so well,” senior Billy Duncan said. “We look forward to getting to the next step.”

Bi-District will also be at Teague High School and will take place on March 26.

“All that has happened will lead us to do our very best,” sophomore Brock Corbitt said. “All of us are really looking forward to the results.”