FHS One Act Play Performs Student Written Shows at BMS and SSC Event

FARMINGTON, Minn., -- On Friday night, Boeckman Middle School had a fantastic turn out to watch the two FHS 2025 Winter One Act shows. Both shows, written by FHS senior Caleb Armstrong, were enjoyed by quite an exuberant crowd. Caleb, who dedicated Friday evening's performance of "Walter Clayton" to his father, Bryce Armstrong, wrote the show over the summer of 2024. Caleb created the western-comedy play "Cactus Juice" during his junior year at FHS. He then began creating the alternate reality show, "Walter Clayton", in the spring of 2024. What an extremely talented writer and story creator. The FHS Theater Department looks forward to reading more great stories from Caleb Armstrong.

The cast started the evening with their 2025 One Act Competition show, "Walter Clayton". The show's story line allowed many audience goers to ask themselves what exactly they would do if the ability to bring the dead back to life were a reality. Are there old wounds that would prevent you from bringing back someone who has passed? Perhaps the decision is all about quality of life? Maybe it all depends on the age when the loved one passed? The drama was extremely well received and the audience pondering thoughts about what happens next in the "Walter Clayton" story line. Will there be a story continuation? Only time and the talents of Caleb Armstrong will tell. The second show of the evening brought about FHS Theater presenting a western on our stage - the first time in more years than can be remembered. "Cactus Juice", the first show that Caleb penned for FHS Theater, invoked smiles, laughter and thunderous applause from spectators. What a fun and successful night of performances for FHS Theater!

Saturday morning arrived FAST, as the "Walter Clayton" cast and crew woke early, arrived at Boeckman and loaded sets on a bus at 6:45am for the trip to the South Suburban Conference One Act Festival, hosted by Prior Lake High School. FHS participated this year with six other high schools. Each school performed their competition show for the other schools and audience which included three theater clinicians. The clinicians viewed and critiqued all shows as a way to prepare each school for the actual One Act Play competition, FHS taking place this Friday evening, January 24th, at Lakeville South High School. Saturday's performances were filled with Greek Tragedies (mostly modernized), a turn of the century murder mystery, a young girl accused of being a witch in old Salem, and a play of a high school classroom dealing with an extended lock-down mode and the potential real threat on their campus. The FHS cast and crew had many discussions about the various shows; what they did and didn't like, possible shows they could perform in the future and those they would not want to perform, and why some shows were more impactful than others.

Director, Jeff Udell had this to say about the performances, "I am extremely proud of our performance and representation while at Prior Lake High School and look forward to performing this Friday in the Section 1AA One Act Play sub-section competition." Five schools will be competing at Lakeville HS with two advancing to the section 1AA finals on January 30th at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Four total schools will be competing in the Section finals to be the one school selected to represent Section 1AA at State on February 7th.

UP NEXT
Section 1AA One Act Play Sub-Section competition at Lakeville South High School

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