DHS acting club sets stage for ‘Tracks’ showcase at state Act One Competition

DICKINSON — Dickinson High School’s (DHS) Drama Club has recently participated in the state A one-act competition in Devil’s Lake on April 8-9. They are now preparing for a local showcase of “Tracks” by Peter Tarsi, a thought-provoking one-act play under the guidance of Karen Wagner. This local performance will be held at the DHS auditorium on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, where they will be performing the piece they took to contest.

The completion, one-act play provides a condensed yet impactful theatrical experience, focusing on a single storyline or theme, and is well-suited for competition, allowing students to exhibit their dramatic skills. The state contest assessed performances on a 19 to 30-point scale, considering stage use, character development, and overall impact.

Under Wagner’s leadership, students delve into “Tracks,” a narrative set in a liminal subway station where characters confront their destinies, exploring moral and existential questions.

The cast features a diverse group of students. Junior Annabelle Dolechek, portraying the Old Man, said, “It’s like purgatory… it’s us trying to figure out if we were good enough for heaven or destined for hell.”

The cast from DHS has been rehearsing for over a month. Due to scheduling conflicts, the original play date was moved, giving them more time to excite the community and show up for support.

They invite the entire community to rally behind their local theater as they would support a hometown sports team.

The cast and director are enthusiastic yet anxious, seeking local backing. Wagner expressed hope that the community would appreciate their efforts, saying, “We want to share our work with people. That’s what theatre is about.”

The cast stressed the importance of theatre as artistic expression and community connection, urging public recognition of their dedication and effort, aiming to elevate local theatre appreciation. Concerns about dwindling arts support, contrasting with the dominant sports culture, were voiced.

Annabelle Dolechek, in the role of the Old Man, spoke about the theater group, highlighting their commitment. She encourages community support, saying, “We want people to come watch. We want people to come watch this place. Even though we’re small, we’re still doing big things.”

Dolechek addresses the perception of theater as an extracurricular activity lacking in challenge or value. She states, “I think people are too busy thinking that theater is too extracurricular, there’s no actual benefit, or there’s no competitiveness, or whatever, that goes along with it, when in reality, we go and compete at state, and we do competitions with it, and it’s we’re just as competitive as sports, and also, you don’t need to see that we’re winning to enjoy it.”

The cast includes Annabelle Dolechek as the Old Man, Jackson Halvorson as the Professor, and Karson Jung as a high school boy, all juniors except for Karson, a freshman. Sophomores in the cast are Sequoia Lambert as a businessman, Ava Such as a nun, Kaitlynn Beenblossom as a homeless girl, and Ella Sickler as a lawyer. The senior members are Stephanie McClellan, a waitress, and Lena Lucka, a businesswoman. Freshman Kaidence Bear takes the role of a high school girl. The technical team features sophomores Annabelle Raybould and Abigail Dupré.

The performance will take place at the Dickinson High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on both days, with the audience encouraged to arrive early. For more information, interested attendees can contact Dickinson High School directly.

Manny is a journalist with a diverse background in communications. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, he earned his degree in the DFW area before venturing to New York City. There he worked as an ethnic media reporter, covering local issues and immigration news. A long history of dedication to sensitive reporting, Manny’s journalistic journey has led him to Dickinson where he takes on the role of a hard news reporter.