By Katie Scarvey Salisbury Post South Rowan High School's Young Order of Dramatic Actors (YODA) began an 11-minute playwriting competition in 2004. Drama teacher Sarah Drinkard was inspired by a similar competition held at a professional theatre in Florida where she worked. The experience of producing their own plays gives students a chance to integrate skills from across the curriculum, offering them the opportunity to write, direct and perform. Because the productions are truly their own, students are "more invested and can feel a sense of pride," Drinkard says. After two years of the competition at South, Drinkard decided this year to open it to all county high schools. Of the plays entered, six were selected to be produced, with Gerrie Blackwelder and Drinkard serving as judges. Placing first in this year's competition were "Death in Motion," written by Ethan Misenheimer of Carson High School and "Seers and Psychos," written by Danny Resner of Salisbury High School. The winning authors will each receive $50 from YODA. The six plays will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Rowan Cabarrus Community College (north campus) in the teaching auditorium between the 500 and 600 buildings. Tickets are $4. Drinkard estimates that the evening will last about an hour and a half. South's Quinn Roth wrote "One, a Few, too Many," which is being directed by Alex Linn, also of South. As the main character Greg sits down to write a script for an 11-minute playwriting competition, his characters come to life and take him on a crazy journey of ideas. "Sports and Love," written by Faith Howell of North Rowan High School, is directed by Jarae Davis of South. This play is about two high schoolers who are attracted to each other in spite of the female's lack of confidence. Through the help of two of their buddies, they manage to find love. South's Abby Bullard wrote "Shakespeare Lives!" The play is directed by "Walter" Jessica Propst of South. The competition between Pepsi and Coke returns in this zany play featuring delightfully bizarre situations (Abby explored a similar theme in her play produced last year). "Whittling Away the Deadwood" by Andrew Moffit of Carson is directed by South's Josh McCall and features murder and mayhem. Ethan Misenheimer of Carson directs his own winning play, "Death in Motion," which explores what lies in the hereafter. When one man dies, he is given a chance to redo things in his life. The other winning play, "Seers and Psychos" by Danny Resner of Salisbury High, is directed by South's Kat Haugen. This play -- part political satire, part absurdist theatre -- features a homeless character who has ambitions of cooking pop-tarts through the power of dreams, getting rid of his annoying social worker and holding on to the wisdom of friends. Opening up the project to all county students this year has been a little crazy, Drinkard says. Still, she says, "I feel really good about how it's gone. It's gone amazingly smoothly for such a large group." More than 40 students are involved. Actors from South include Daniel Hubbard, Ethan Crater, Annalise Padgett, Haley Haithcock, Abby Bullard, Taylor Chandler, Jarae Davis, Mary Drye, Kyron Schultz, Quinn Roth, Julie Lovejoy, Stephanie Hogge, Lauren Brown and Amanda Blankenship. Actors from Carson are Christian Dionne, Hannah Roseman, Katie Watkins, Amanda Honeycutt, Matt Walker and Ethan Misenheimer. Actors from Salisbury High are Sarah Canup, Jesse Mayorga, Patrick Reaves; from West Rowan High School, Cala Cocca. Working behind the scenes are Jessica Hensley, Amber Cline, Erin Basinger, Adam Osborne, Heaven Bare and Amanda Riley, all of South, and C.J. Catanesu of Carson. * * * Contact Katie Scarvey at 704-797-4270 or kscarvey@salisburypost.com.
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