After two fall performances, the theatre department is revamping Elephant Man for One-Act Play next month.

“We never had an audience reaction like that before,” director Stephanie Smith said. “It just had so much emotion and reaction from everyone that I knew I had to do it again. Also, I feel like there was so much more we can do with it.”

Since the theatre department showed the play in the fall, much of the original cast is returning for the OAP performance. This includes senior Josh Pagan who plays John Merrick, also known as the Elephant Man and senior Zack Short as his doctor Fredrick Treves.

“It went so well last time that I think it will only get stronger,” Pagen said. “I’m excited, because I get to go farther with the Elephant Man and acting. I think we are going to go really far with this play in UIL.”

The play however won’t be the same one as before, because of the different rules that have to be followed with the OAP competition. Only 15 cast members may perform, resulting in some actors having to play more than one character.

“It’s going to be challenging, because it’s a play that’s under 45 minutes and you’re having to change rolls,” sophomore Taylor Criswell said. “You have to let the audience know that you’re not that same character as before in different clothes. You have to make them believe that you’re different.”

The cast will compete at Leander High School, March 25, but there will be a public performance in the auditorium on March 20 at 7 p.m., so the rest of the school can see their hard work.

“We are taking it to a different level,” Smith said. “It’s been cut down and reworked. It has all the things everybody liked from fall show, therefore making it even more meaningful.”