TC Masquers turned in a repeat performance by winning the Georgia High School Association Region 1-4A One Act competition for the second straight year. Thomas County Central High School Drama program’s entry, “A Piece of My Heart” by Shirley Lauro, wowed at the annual event, held Oct. 30 at Westover High School in Albany.
“Winning region for the second straight year is exciting,” TCCHS Principal Trista Jones, who accompanied the group to the event, said. “The students spend many hours practicing and focusing on the expectations of the competition such as timing, chemistry between actors, listening and reacting, and vocal interpretation. Competing against teams such as Bainbridge and Cairo is always challenging, so everyone is pleased to come home with a win.”
“A Piece of My Heart” is about the experiences of four Vietnam War nurses who have no idea into what they’ve signed on to serve. Yet, through the atrocities witnessed from both sides, they gain self-actualization.
In individual performance awards, junior Savannah Taylor, 17, won Best Female Actress for the region. The youth thespian calls it an amazing accomplishment and one for which she thanks her castmates and mentors for helping her constantly learn and evolve her craft.
“Receiving such a recognition has been an honor,” Taylor said. “Hearing my name called for best actress was an absolute shock. My face froze, and I saw all my castmates cheering and even crying for me. That moment will forever be extremely special to me. Winning this award helped me realize that the extra hours are always worth it. Whether configuring a playlist to get into character, reading books to gain knowledge, or watching movies to understand the period, it will ALL always be worth it. I have doubted my abilities over and over, and this award has shown to me that sometimes all you need to do is believe in yourself.”
Taylor plays Whitney, an accomplished young woman seeking her place in the world. The young actress said her character reminds her of the quote, “there’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”
“Whitney viewed volunteering for Vietnam as a way to find herself and gain knowledge,” Taylor said. “However, Vietnam broke her into a million little pieces. Yet, despite it all, she becomes a person she could never have been without her service. Vietnam broke her down, but Whitney built herself back up.”
Whitney was a role Taylor wanted because she loved the character as soon as she read the script in ninth grade. She dived deep to bring the Red Cross girl’s perspective to life.
“Her complexity and story intrigued me,” Taylor said. “I love challenging roles, and Vietnam tested my acting skills. I had to find a way to portray alcoholism, betrayal, and the horrific scenes of war while I was just a 17-year-old girl in rural Georgia. The most rewarding part about playing this role is growing as an actress. I never experienced Vietnam or anything Whitney has been through, so I have had to reach deep into the art of acting to bring this role to life.”
Putting her love of acting into words is a challenge for Taylor because it’s so special to her.
“I just know that every time I enter the stage and the lights hit my face, I feel the most alive,” she said. “I fall in love with every character I play, and they become a part of me. Whenever I feel myself step into my character and get comfortable on the stage, I know that at that moment, nothing else could ever be more important.”
But the acting accolades do not end with Taylor. Additionally, castmates Molly Grace White and Grayson Jones earned spots on the region’s All Star Cast.
Grayson Jones, 16, calls the honor an amazing one.
“I had a lot of trouble connecting to my character at the beginning of the rehearsal process,” she said. “It was a very daunting task to accurately and respectfully portray this period, but earning all-star has proven that I have done my job well.”
Jones, a sophomore who enjoys the freedom of expression that accompanies playing someone else onstage, portrays Sissy, whom she calls a very complex character.
“In the full version of the play, she finds faith in Vietnam and brings that back to help veterans cope with what happened during the war,” she said. “I’ve always loved how compassionate she is, which has been one of the best parts about playing her.”
Behind the scenes, the show’s technical crew also helped make the show a success. Crew members worked to provide sound, stage direction and lighting.
Senior tech crew member Heather Smith feels overwhelming pride for her fellow cast and crew.
“We really pulled ourselves together and worked efficiently with what we had,” she said. “I am so grateful that we were all given a chance to put a show together. I love this crew, and they made my last one act a very memorable one.”
Their first-place finish means the TC Masquers advance to the state competition, the GHSA State One Act event scheduled to occur Saturday, Nov. 20 in Perry. They’ll spend the time until then tweaking their show and anticipating another opportunity to demonstrate and share their gifts with others.
“Our students are talented and very driven,” Trista Jones said. “They have great chemistry and work as a team. Mrs. [Gabrielle] McMullen provides excellent instruction and support. Above all, these kids love acting and love to compete.”