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TheatreMcLean earned first place at the VHSL regional one-act play competition Feb. 5, securing the department’s second consecutive trip to the state level.

The annual competition challenges theater departments to create and perform a 30-minute production at district, regional and state events. McLean presented “A Company of Players,” a farce written by theater teacher Philip Reid’s former instructor.

“I always do his plays to honor him,” Reid said.

The story follows a theater troupe staging “The Mousetrap,” the play within Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Although its sets and costumes evoke Shakespeare’s era, Reid said the production uses contemporary language and combines parody with slapstick humor.

McLean advanced after also taking first place at the district competition. The department placed third at states last year, its first of what has now become back-to-back appearances.

“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.”

McLean students also received three of the competition’s five acting awards. Schweikert was named the event’s top actor.

“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.”

Schweikert said the experience strengthened relationships across the cast and crew.

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