Less than a week is left and the Harrisonburg High School One Act cast started the year with no script and are now on their way to finishing up this year’s show Whirled Piece.
“The play was inspired by the assistant director and myself getting ideas for this year, getting inspired by things that are  happening in the word and by a song called Fire on the Mountain, and as we were discussing what to do for the one act and who we had available we decided to take a chance to write the show and using the kids to help us write it,” Swartz said. The grueling task of putting together a 45 minute performance began on Sept. 5. 18 students auditioned, such as experienced Jaymie Inouye to rookie freshman, they all took their turn on the stage hoping to get cast. Days later, to everyone’s surprise, everyone who was at auditions was cast.

The cast of 18 has been working on the show from scratch. Since its inception the show has evolved from one scene to the next. Actors collaborated with both the directors and each other to create a piece they hope will win them competitions. Over the past few weeks they have been working diligently to pull together a show that will touch the audience.

Junior Phoebe Copeland has been in the one act all three years of high school and will be this year’s stage manager. “The show has an overarching theme of violence,” Copeland said. There are vignettes that all come together and show how violence affects children, brothers, friends and coworkers.

Jaymie Inouye is a sophomore; she has a prominent dancing role in the show and has been in the one act for two years. “[Whirled Piece] shows how it [violence] affects the characters because they are connected in some way, whether it be friends or family.” Inouye said.

Harrisonburg High School is hosting the district VHSL tournament for one act on October 19. The cast must make it through to the regional tournament by placing in the top three spots if they are going to try to advance. They will also travel to Reston, VA,on October 25 for the Virginia Theatre Association where they will complete against over 30 schools for the chance to be named the best in Virginia and move on to Southeastern Theatre Competition for a chance at becoming the best in all of the southeastern United States.