The George West High School Theatre Department presented their UIL One Act Play, “The Arkansaw Bear” during a Dinner Theater on Sunday evening.

The GWHS National Honor Society worked in conjunction with the thespians to serve a wonderful lasagna dinner prior to the performance. The cast consists of Elizabeth Cancino, Emily Snider, Luke Selhke, Sara Roach, Cody Bartlett, Wesley Iley, Sarah Reagan, Alyssa Crank, and Zachory McAllister.

The crew for the performance is Joseph Lopez, Mario Rodriguez, Kimberley Villafranca, Samantha Cantu, and Juan Paiz. Director of the play is Lynda Hamlin.

The premier production of “The Arkansaw Bear” was given by the Department of Drama, The University of Texas at Austin, March 20-29, 1980. The play description elaborates, “saddened and bewildered at her grandfather’s approaching death, Tish runs to her ‘special tree.’ There, in a world of fantasy, provided by her wishing on a Star, she meets the World’s Greatest Dancing Bear. He is old, like her grandfather, and is running away -- from death. In trying to help him, she begins to understand the meaning of both life and death, which helps her to cope with her own sadness. The play blends realism and fantasy, pathos and humor. Delightfully theatrical, with music, magic and dance, enthusiastically applauded by children’s audiences -- and family audiences. “The Arkansaw Bear” is an important work by America’s foremost playwright for young audiences, sparkling with entertainment and, at the same time, dramatizing, with poignancy, a universal truth.”

The George West Theatre Department will perform “The Arkansaw Bear” at the UIL One Act Play Competition at Three Rivers on March 23 at approximately 6:00 p.m.