Thespian Troupe #1966
Temple High School, Temple TX

Hey everyone. I know there's probably NO ONE aside from Mrs. T that either knows or remembers me...but that's ok. We're all THS Thespians....brothers and sisters one and all. Just wanted to congratualte y'all on another successful production for the U.I.L. One-Act Competition. If any of you ever need anything that I might be able to help with...a recording studio or studio time...or perhaps a place to sing and get seen and heard.  Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call me...254-931-1051...anytime! I'll do what I can....whether I know you or not. Like I said earlier...we're all family in Troupe 1966...no matter when we graduated!

Dear Temple High School Cast, Crew, & Designers, 2010 State UIL One-Act Play:

I attended Temple High School from the fall of 1967 to graduation in May of 1970. As a sophomore, I was cast in the THS UIL OAP cutting from John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, along with two other people, both seniors. Yes, we were a cast of three! (Each of us, throughout our high school tenure, participated in other productions, as well as speech and drama tournaments.)

'Back in the day' of 1968, only one school advanced, and competitions consisted of only District, Regional, and State. Moreover, a judge had discretion as to how many All Star Cast and Honorable Mention All Star Cast awards would be given (up to a 'cap' of eight, total) – if, even at all!

Walt Canady was the speech coach and theatre director my sophomore and junior years; Kay Hester was that during my senior year--just to help place this in context.

Canady directed his cutting for our one-act entry; its total cast members were myself (Eve Holmans-Hoppock Raine) portraying the only female of the script, namely "Curley's Wife." John Broders, a senior, played "George," and Doug Hoppock, also a senior, played "Lennie."

Our production won District. We performed at SMU for the Regional competition, where we were named as the Alternate. Doug got Best Actor at both District and Regional; John was named to the All-Star Cast at both District and Regional; I, also, was named to the All Star Cast at both District and Regional--and was the only female to receive that award at Regional. Again, only one school advanced, and awards did not necessarily total eight.

I have a distinct memory of the speech and drama classroom and, especially, one small detail: As one faced the little classroom stage, a small closet or office type of room was located just to the left. In there hanging from a plain old rusty iron coat hanger was a wooden plaque. It was the award for being the District UIL One-Act Play Champion for Temple High School's entry in 1921!

Whenever I was in that little room, usually learning lines, I would hold that plaque and look at it long and hard. Their "win," from four decades earlier, inspired and motivated me for our cast and crew to do the same! My three-member cast did win and advance for Temple High School – only the second time up to that point in the spring of 1968!

I have read on your website that your department has had great success for the past eighteen consecutive years. How impressive!

May the three of us – John, Doug, and I – encourage and support you now as you are going to STATE once again! Our generation of Temple High’s UIL one-act from four decades ago wishes to inspire and motivate you!

Doug Hoppock is Professor and Chairperson of Theatre at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant. John Broders is Associate Editor of Texas Monthly Magazine. I am a retired high school theatre teacher and director, as well as teacher of Language Arts and English as a Second Language. As a former high school theatre teacher and director (during the later days of two schools advancing and with several more levels of competitions added), seven of my UIL productions advanced to Area; four to Regional; and two to State.

I know that I can speak for Doug and John, as well, when I say that we have always been thankful for the fine education we received in Temple schools (from elementary through senior year). We were all three given such an excellent foundation by our participation in the Fine and Performing Arts programs of Temple High School.

For the 2010 THS UIL OAP cast, crew, and designers advancing to STATE, may I say, on behalf of the three Of Mice and Men'ers –

Break a leg & Skin off Your Nose!

To those of you I know and to those of you I've not had the pleasure of meeting: words cannot express how proud I am.

I've been following your progress, and it's no surprise that you'll be in Austin on May 8th.

Enjoy yourselves. These will be memories you won't soon forget :)

Love you with every ounce of my soul and being,-Cory Kosel

I don't think my first entry got everything...so here is the rest of my message that is entirely too long...

For those of you who are newbies, take it all in, have a great time, and know that you are making memories that you will remember 3 years later. =)

For those of you that are doing this for the third and second time, break legs after you've run through set up, make sure not to trample the newbies around you, and hopefully today will bring you back to all of the wonderful UIL performances that have come before. 

UIL was a huge part of my experience in high school, and taught me just as much if not more than some of my classes about working with people and what is important in life; the funny moments that can be cherished and the mistakes that can be learned from. 

I love you all, break legs, break some hearts, and most of all, "tell your story," as you add memories to each of your individual stories. 

Make me proud!! =)

Hey you guys! I just wanted to wish you all a great run today. 

Things that I remember from my first UIL one- act competition:

Setting Up:

1. Chris can move a lot faster than I thought he could

2. Do I have everything? Where are my mittens?

3. Somehow having time to check for lipstick on the teeth in the midst of blurs as people ran by, cords were flying, and a giant picture of cory was hung...with the braces

4. HUDDLE, HUGS and HAPPINESS...followed by fear, nervousness, thoughts such as "I'm going to trip in these heels...etc."

Run Through

1. Popping up the lights were bright, but hopefully my plastered smile was brighter

2. I hope I don't trip on this cord, small steps, palms out, EYES OPEN

3. Look to cory, look to the audience, tilt the head, look to cory, look to the audience, tilt the head...

4. As I sit behind my kitchen counter top and have a moment to breathe- thoughts- "I can't believe I'm actually doing this. This is the most fun I've had in awhile. I hope we advance so I get to do this again, next time more gracefully."

5. Megan magic with the wig...maybe? maybe not? whatever I'm supposed to be crazy, it's all good

6. UUUGGGHHHHH die. try to appear as if I've stopped breathing. Sorry Alex for squishing you, thanks for being my cushion/ wearing your wig just as ridiculously as I wore mine. 

7. They're laughing a lot.

8. They're clapping!  It's over 

Tearing down

1. I think this smile is plastered on forever

2. I love polka dots

3. Did we really just tear down the set in 2 mins?

For those of you who are newbies, take i