Role: Nikos
Nikos devising with Lydia
Blocking Nikos
01
The beginning
Big Love by Charles L. Mee; Fifty brides seek refuge from their 50 grooms, doing whatever it takes to stop the wedding. Seeking asylum in a beautiful Italian villa, they experience threats of suicide, pacts of murderous revenge, and maybe — accidentally — acts of love. Nikos is the Inamorato in this play however, Lydia the love of his life is being influenced by her sisters that true love is non existent and that men are beast that can never truly love. I wanted to audition for this play since the moment I saw it at state UIL in 2024. I loved Nikos however, I think that in a lot of iterations the real softness of this man is never truly captured. I think truly that not all men have to manly and tough to be seen as a man. However, the ego of the actor is prevalent and never fails to show through any character. That is why it is so unique to see many iterations of the same play. The actors are artist as well. I thought when watching this play that so much more could be done to advocate for the men who truly aren't seen as men in society. I believe that love exist however it needs to be discovered in order to be understood. My goal for this production is to advocate for the men who aren't seen as manly, to help the audience understand true love, and to expand my acting experience. When auditioning I auditioned originally as Constantine (the antagonist) in hopes to expand my acting experience and palette. Although that is not what I got I still get to expand my palate in the sense that Nikos is an antagonist at the beginning and reveals to be the protagonist towards the end. Another new thing we began in this process are devising beats. Our director had us devise one moment to show the intense relationship with our scene partners. This scene wouldn't be in the show but it would build the rest of the devising beats that would appear in the show. Although we had such an amazing vision for the show out clinician made us realize that the show is much more than realistic. Our amazing clinician Mr. Springfield opened the doors to even more possibilities that completely shifted the direction of the play from what we originally had. Finally we went for a more artistic show that resembles Comedia del Arte.
Tech- For my tech contribution I worked closely with set making foam caps and facades for our UIL pylons. I was put to cut out shapes from foam with a hot wire that would be painted and used to decorate the otherwise blank faces of the UIL pylons. I also contributed to publicity with our t-shirt design. The first sketch was my rough draft however with suggestions I bettered my design by fixing the colors and the font to give it a more finished look. I also added Presented by Cadre Kerr via suggestion from my director.
First Sketch
Final Sketch
02
The middle
As we reach the midpoint of our UIL One-Act Play process, this journey has already been one of the most intense and transformative experiences we’ve had as a cast. Every rehearsal pushes us to dig deeper—not just into the characters, but into ourselves. The emotional demands, the physicality, and the honesty this show requires have challenged us to grow as individual performers and as an ensemble.
Our clinic was a major turning point. The feedback we received was direct, insightful, and exactly what we needed. We were asked to examine our choices, sharpen our timing, and make every moment on stage matter. Since then, our cast has been more focused and driven. There’s been a noticeable shift in the energy of our rehearsals—we’re more in sync, more present, and more committed to telling this story with clarity and heart.
One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is embracing the extremes of the play. The emotions run high, the movement is intense, and the tone shifts quickly from chaotic to intimate. Finding the balance between control and rawness has taken a lot of trust—not only in ourselves, but in each other. But with each rehearsal, that trust keeps growing.
We’re still very much in process. There are moments we’re still discovering, lines we’re still unlocking, and choices we’re still refining. But what’s clear is that we’ve built something that matters. We’ve learned to take risks, to support each other, and to stay open—even when things feel messy or uncertain.
As we prepare for district, we’re stepping into this next phase with more confidence, more unity, and a shared sense of purpose. We’ve worked hard to get here, and we’re excited to keep pushing forward and bring everything we’ve built to the stage.
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Character analysis
03
The End
Now that we've completed our run at district and advanced to bi-district, it feels like the right time to step back and reflect on just how far we’ve come. What started as a script full of complicated emotions and overwhelming staging has become something we’ve each taken ownership of—something alive, collaborative, and deeply meaningful.
This process has stretched us in every direction: emotionally, physically, and mentally. We’ve spent hours breaking down our characters, refining movement, and building trust as an ensemble. There were moments that tested our patience and our confidence, but through it all, we kept showing up—for the work and for each other.
The energy we brought to district was the result of weeks of risk-taking, listening, adjusting, and learning. Standing on that stage, we weren’t just performing—we were telling a story we had poured ourselves into. And being recognized for that effort by advancing to bi-district is incredibly rewarding.
But beyond the awards or advancement, what stands out most is the connection we’ve built—on and off stage. We’ve become more than a cast. We’ve become a team that knows how to support each other through creative challenges and high-pressure moments. That growth is something we’ll carry with us long after the final curtain.
As we head into bi-district, we do so with gratitude, pride, and a stronger sense of purpose. We know who we are, we know the story we’re telling, and we’re ready to bring it to life again—this time with even more heart.
