On Feb. 5, McLean’s Theatre department won first place in regionals for their one act play, entitled A Company of Players.

Every year, VHSL hosts a one act play competition, where theater departments create a thirty minute play, and perform at the district, regional, and state level.

“A Company of Players was actually written by my former theater teacher,” Theater teacher Philip Reid said. “I always do his plays to honor him.”

A Company of Players is about a theater troop who are putting on a production of “The Mousetrap” which is the play within Shakespere’s famous play, Hamlet.

“The set and clothing are Shakespearean, but the play is very contemporary in its language,” Reid said. “It’s a farce and makes fun of Shakespere, but it’s full of slapstick humor as well.”

This is the first time Theater McLean has gone to states twice in a row, as the department went last year as well, where they won third place.

“Everyone was super excited to have gotten first at Districts, and we really wanted to do better than we did the first time,” senior Hayden Schweikert said. “I think we definitely did that.”

Furthermore, the judges distributed five acting awards and three of them went to McLean students. Schweikert was named top actor of the competition.

“I was shocked, but also super excited and proud,” Schweikert said. “The moments after we finished, when everything was done, we realized how well we had done.”

Beyond this competition being an opportunity for Theater McLean to exhibit its exceptional talent, it is a truly meaningful bonding experience.

“This competition really bonded all of us,” Schweikert said. “The community and team we work with really made this experience that much more enjoyable.”