NRHEG One-Act Play “In the Forests of the Night” well attended by public

About 75 people attended the Feb. 14 public performance of the NRHEG 2025 contest one-act play,“In the Forests of the Night,” by Del Martin. The evening performance completed the cast’s season, which began last November with the try-out process and included presenting the play at two events–a “festival” at which area schools received input from judges, and at the subsection contest, both during January.

In keeping with MSHSL rules, “In the Forests of the Night” runs about 35 minutes–the maximum permitted length. The audience is introduced to 13 high-school age characters who take part in a mysterious after-dark “game” in a forest; Characters draw numbers at random, then carry out specific roles in the scenario. Number 13 is the “sacrifice”; the audience gradually comes to understand she will be tied to a tree and left there, never to be seen again.  The audience also learns the characters have taken part in this “game” before, and feel they must participate to protect the safety of the entire student body of the nearby boarding school.

Adult directors of the play are NRHEG teachers Solveig Sundbland and Holly Pederson; the two say student participants selected the play, and wanted a chance to practice portraying the tense, serious types of scenes it includes.

Cast members for the play were Sophia Williams, Winter Pederson, Kenna Dolton, Jacob Karl, Crissa Koopal, Mady Schlaak, Grace Starman, Shayna Kress, Caden Christopher, Olivia Wencl, Rylie Cromwell, Madi Langfitt and Caralee Koopal.  For the Feb. 14 production, Emily Delacruz joined the cast to fill in for someone who could not be present.

Sound technician was Scarlett Chance, lights technician was Rielly Weitzel, set managers were Emily Delacruz and Com Porter. The set was designed by Augest Botten and Danica Boyes.