Local high school theatre students forced to skip senior prom for UIL state competition

HELOTES, Texas — The show must go on. In this case, it comes at the cost of skipping senior prom. For the first time in school history, the O’Connor High School Theatre is going to state for its one-act play. However, the UIL state competition is this Saturday, in Austin, which is the same night as prom.

Seniors Payton Cottrill and Liam Meister and the rest of the students have been putting in work.

“We have been working on this for months, and months,” Cottrill said. “And it has been blood, sweat and tears.”

The work of the one-act play “Amadeus” seems to paying off. Head Theatre Director Michael Arellano recounted when they found out they made it to state.

“When we were there at regional’s and they called our name, we were like, it just felt unreal,” he said.

This group is making history for O’Connor High School. Meister, who plays the lead, talked about the state competition.

“We are competing with the top eight schools in the state,” he said. “It is kind of like the Olympics. As long as you are there that is the prize.”

The play is about composer Antonio Salieri and his rival Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who most people have heard of.

“The main person is jealous of Mozart,” Arellano said. “He is really toxic and kind of like the villain. What he actually wants is to be legendary and remembered.”

Arellano said it is also a story about living in the present.

“I think the show is fantastic,” he said.

As for the UIL competition Saturday, it which means the curtain is closing on prom.

“Our senior prom is this Saturday at the exact same time,” Cottrill said. “It is a little bit upsetting sure. Because, it is one of those nights you want to remember for the rest of your life as a high-schooler. But, at the same time making it state in UIL theater is really cool.”

Arellano said there are up to 13 seniors in the group and all are planning to miss prom for the big stage. There is one student hoping to make it back.

As for looking ahead to Saturday the group is confident.

“We are somewhat confident going into it,” Meister said. “And it is a beautiful show.”

“I think if we are last place, we are still the best in the state,” Arellano said. “And if we are first place we are still the best.

They group plans to have a banquet and are hoping to go big this year since they are missing prom. They are raising funds for the event.

Also on Monday, they invite everyone to see the play at O’Connor. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, click here.