Cleburne High School will be competing in the third round of UIL One Act Play competition as one of six productions taking the stage March 23 at the Bi-District Contest hosted at Grapevine High School. Cleburne has drawn the final performance slot of the day, with an anticipated curtain time of 7 PM.

The cast and crew of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane placed second at the District contest to advance to Bi-District.

Hallie Davis, who received the Best Performer Award at the Zone Meet, was named to the District All-Star Cast along with Preference Chola, who was also an All-Star Zone honoree. Tim Bailey was selected as an All-Star Runner-up and Xavier Rodriguez, who is the production’s sound tech, received the All-Star Technical Award. 

                “I am very proud of these students,” Theater Arts teacher Keli Price said. “It was a very long day, with a rehearsal, then the performance. These kids have worked very hard as performers, individually and together, in what we believe is a very entertaining and meaningful production. We are very excited to be continuing to this next round of the state one act play competition.”

                The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is the tale of a toy rabbit who becomes lost from the little girl who loves him. From being tossed overboard into the sea, to finding himself in a hobo jungle and being hung in a cornfield to scare away crows, Edward experiences loss and recovery, and kindness and compassion from a variety of individuals who come to claim him as their own.

Chola, who is a freshman, provides the voice and personality of Edward, in sharing every scene with the toy rabbit. Davis, who has been cast in multiple parts including the play’s narrator, is a four-year theater arts student at CHS. She will be continuing her studies at Texas Wesleyan University with plans to become a high school theater teacher.

Bailey is also featured as three different characters, including a hobo who finds Edward on a garbage heap, and the owner of a toy shop who restores Edward to his once-pristine condition.

                 Cleburne’s One Act Play team also includes Silk Kilgore, Paxton Wilson, Skye Ewell, Madi Munn, Maryah Turner, Victoria Warniment, Brigid Morgan, Hunter Patrick, Freya Watkins, Brookelyn Boone, Mya DeLaHaye, Renee Wisenbaker, Baylee Kelly, Emily Moore, Madison Collins, Kallie Taylor and Khaliece Jones.