You can see a free show of “theater under pressure.”
For the first time in school history, the theatre program at Durant High School has advanced a one-act production to the Florida State Thespian Festival, marking a milestone moment for students, staff, and the larger community.
Durant’s theatre program has been active for decades, with Thespian Troupe 5444 forming a long-standing part of the school’s artistic tradition. Director Stephen Arment took over the program in 2016, following the retirement of Ed Mason, who led the department since the school opened. Arment describes stepping into that role as daunting, but from the beginning, he set a clear goal: to eventually take a one-act production to the state festival.
“It only took ten tries,” Arment said. “This is the first time in school history that our one-act has advanced to perform at State, which makes this moment particularly meaningful for our students and for the program as a whole.”
Advancing to the state level is no small feat. The selection process is highly competitive, with more than 30 schools bringing productions to districts this year. Only the top five scores advance. Productions are evaluated not only on acting, but also on technical execution, storytelling, time management, and logistics.
The rules are unforgiving. Each school is given a six-foot by nine-foot backstage box, and everything connected to the show must fit inside it. Schools are allotted 40 minutes total to set up, perform, strike the set, and return all materials to the box. Going over time, leaving an item on stage, or failing to fit everything back inside the space can result in disqualification. Teachers are not allowed backstage; the production must be entirely student-run.
“It’s theatre under pressure,” Arment said.
When students learned they had advanced, the reaction was immediate and overwhelming. After an initial moment of disbelief came screaming and tears. One stage manager jumped so high she nearly injured herself and spent the evening in the hospital getting her ankle checked—thankfully with no lasting damage.
“That tells you everything you need to know about the level of excitement in the room,” Arment said. For many students, this marks the first time they have received recognition at such a high level, and they understood instantly that the achievement was historic.
The selected production is an adaptation of A Christmas Carol; a choice rooted deeply in personal meaning for the director. Arment dedicated the production to the memory of his high school theatre teacher and mentor, James Warren. In the director’s notes, Arment reflects on Warren’s influence, recalling lessons learned both on and off the stage, including a moment when Warren advised him, “Don’t fight the rain.”
That phrase became a lasting metaphor, one that now defines the heart of this production. After Warren’s passing, Arment discovered a Christmas Carol blanket placed beside him at his service, a reminder of how deeply Warren loved the story—particularly the journey of Scrooge, a man who learns to open his heart. Though the show was chosen before Warren’s death, it has since taken on new meaning.
“We carry his lantern forward,” Arment said.
Durant’s version of the classic story stands apart through its reliance on ensemble storytelling and physical transformation rather than spectacle. Because of competition constraints, elaborate scenery is not possible. Instead, the actors’ movement, voices, and shared storytelling create the world of the play.
“It’s intimate,” Arment said. “It’s driven by heart rather than effects.”
The production includes students in grades 10 through 12, representing a wide range of experience levels—from sophomores just finding their confidence to seniors who have helped build the program over years of dedication. Preparing the show for a state-level performance presented its own challenges, particularly revisiting a production that had previously reached what Arment once considered the end of its journey.
“I’ve never remounted a production before,” he said. “But I was surprised at how much the students retained. It shows how the stories we tell become a part of you.”
One especially meaningful moment came during a school performance, when snow machines—an effect not allowed at the state level—were used. Watching the students perform amid falling snow, accompanied by Christmas music, is a memory Arment says will stay with him forever.
Before heading to the festival, Durant High will host a free “Christmas in March” benefit performance on Friday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Durant Auditorium. The event will serve as a community send-off and showcase any Thespy events advancing to State. While admission is free, donations will be accepted to help cover costs such as festival registration, transportation, and re-renting costumes for the extended run.
For Arment, the milestone is both professional and deeply personal.
“It means everything,” he said. “Seeing students reach this moment confirms that the work matters.”
As Durant High’s theatre students prepare to represent their school and community on a state stage, they do so carrying forward not just a production, but a legacy.
