Submitted Photo The cast of the play includes Micah Carter, Christian Gifford, Isabella Andrews, Aiden Yamamoto, Ezra Johnson and Brandon Lavin as the colorful characters of the play.

“The Whole Shebang” by Rich Orloff is a one-act play that is expected to leave the audience with an optimistic message of how the world is a good place and life worth living.

On April 5 at Magic City Campus, the one-act will be performed for audiences at 7:30 p.m. before the high school actors head to Devils Lake later in April for the The State A Drama Contest.

The play asks the question “What if the creation of Earth was somebody’s science project?” and opens on a ‘student’ who is presenting in front of a Dean and two professors to try and get his “Master of the Universe” Degree by defending his creation of humans on Earth. When he has to bring two “typical” human beings who were house sitting for the doctor and teacher he originally wanted to bring, things take a turn. In the end though, the student learns that his creation is good and the humans persuade the student that the world is in fact a good place and life is worth living.

The director of the play, Paula Rauschenberger, says she chose the play for the important message it offers, especially with the problems going on in our current world, and because it gives the young actors and actresses involved a challenge as they perform an intelligent comedy.

“I love the humor and I also like the optimistic message it delivers,” said Rauschenberger.

With a cast of six on stage and a crew of nine behind putting the play on, it is expected to be quite an enjoyable performance. Along with the play, students Cade Solberg, Christian Gifford, Erin Hubbard, Isabella Andrews, Maggie Weeks, Micah Carter, Mandy Marx, and Autumn Grosz will be performing duo or solo acts such as a solo monologue, acting duo, musical theater vocal solo and duet, and stage and costume design.

After their performance at Magic City Campus, the students will be attending the State A Drama Contest where 12 to 14 other Class A schools have entered to compete in one-act plays and other solo or duo performances. While there, they will perform in front of judges who will rank the plays with the top four winning trophies.

“Oral critiques are given after each performances, so it is not only a competition, but a valuable learning experience for the young actors and tech people,” said Rauschenberger.

Minot High has competed at the contest the last four years, securing their first win with a fourth place trophy last year for their play titled “The Belles of Charlemont.”

According to Rauschenberger, “We were ecstatic to be recognized in the top four after only four years of participating and competing.”

Rauschenberger previously directed plays in the State B Contest for 26 years until she began teaching at Minot High in 2011. She directed one-act plays in Sawyer for 13 years and in Glenburn for 13 years. Both school placed numerous times and in 2006 and 2007, Glenburn even won State Championships. Once at Minot High, she worked with the Activities Director, Mitch Lunde, to set up a consistent one-act play program for grades 9-12 to be involved with.

“The activity of NDHSAA Drama is one of importance in that it provides our students with an opportunity to showcase their talents as well as learn from watching other schools’ productions. It is truly educational and fun for theater students of MHS and it gives them opportunities nothing else can.”