Preparing for Bob Jones Drama Fest, Jonny Smith as Harry Houdini and Olivia Skillern as Bess Houdini rehearse in “”The Last Illusion.” (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – About 200 actors with Bob Jones Patriot Players will perform at Drama Fest 2013 on Oct. 29.Drama Fest will start at 6:30 p.m. in Zompa Auditorium at Bob Jones High School.

In addition to entertaining the guests, Drama Fest prepares actors for District One Trumbauer competition and serves as the department’s major fundraiser for the year.

“Drama Fest is the year’s only event involving every single drama student,” teacher Mary Davis said. Students in beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced production classes will perform, while technical theatre students will demonstrate their skills.

“We have 189 theatre and choir students in 127 events registered for this year’s competition,” Davis said. Drama teacher Dwayne Craft, choir director Randall and Davis collaborate for this event.

Students in beginning, intermediate and advanced classes will perform individual events for competition. These acts include solo and duet pantomimes, contemporary and classical monologues, duets of contemporary and classical origin, along with solo and duet musical theatre.

In addition, students will present Reader’s Theatre selections.

Students will perform in various rooms throughout Bob Jones’ art wing adjacent to Zompa Auditorium. “As each performance room finishes, the audience will gather in the auditorium, where the 45-minute competition one act, ‘The Last Illusion, will begin around 8 p.m.,” Davis said.

“As the years have gone by, we recognize Drama Fest as our own ‘Homecoming,'” Davis said. “Former students, as far back as 15 years ago, come back to see the department’s progress they all had a part of making so successful.”

Tickets are $5 and available at the door. After individual acts, the one-act play will start around 8 p.m.

For the District One Trumbauer Festival, James Clemens High School will host 12 schools on Nov. 1-2. Individual events ranked “superior” will advance to the state-level Walter J. Trumbauer Drama Festival at Troy University on Dec. 6-7. Also, four of the 10 one-act plays will represent District One at state competition.

For information, email to mdavis@madisoncity.k12.al.us.