*All photos are credited to Paul Schmidt at Hawk Creek Photography
Each year students at ACGC are able to participate in the annual One Act Play competition through the Minnesota State High School League. We wanted to shine a spotlight on this awesome event not only to highlight our incredibly talented students, but to share a look behind the curtain at the work that goes into hosting this competition.
This year marked Mr. Rosengren’s 10th One Act Play and 10th musical at ACGC with a program that has seen incredible growth over the years.
“When I started, our casts were maybe 12-15 students with just a couple backstage helpers but this past fall, our musical had 35 students on stage and 15 crew members behind the scenes,” said Rosengren. “That growth didn’t happen by accident. Students shared their love for the program, recruited friends, and built a culture of excellence and inclusion. The community noticed. Teachers saw students blossom. Parents saw their once-quiet children shine. And through it all, these kids found not just a stage—but a second family.”
We sat down with Theatre Director Mr. Rosengren to get more details. Responses have been minimally edited for content and clarity.
Tell me a bit about the One Act Play that ACGC performed for the competition this year.
This year, ACGC Theatre presented a play called The Haunting of Mary Todd Lincoln. It’s a dark and compelling exploration of mental illness, grief, and womanhood in the post-Civil War era. The show features the former First Lady as she navigated her own haunted memories, court-mandated institutionalization, and the crushing legacy of Abraham Lincoln’s death. With strong themes and emotional complexity, the piece really challenged our student performers to dig deep—and they rose to that challenge with beautiful results!
The production was visually evocative and used minimalist set pieces, ghostly lighting, and period-inspired costuming to create an immersive and emotionally intense experience. Although we didn’t bring home the win in competition, our cast and crew really bonded as a team to deliver their strongest performance to date to walk away proud and empowered.
What kind of work and organization goes into preparing to host the One Act Play competition?
Hosting a subsection One Act contest is a tremendous logistical undertaking that requires attention to every single detail—from stage prep to judge coordination to hospitality. I worked closely with Mr. Zupke, who served as both our official Site Manager and the evening's Emcee, to ensure the event was compliant with all MSHSL guidelines and ran smoothly for all of our competing teams.
The planning involved coordinating tech schedules, creating clear backstage flow, prepping score sheets and critique forms, assigning warm-up spaces, and communicating expectations with visiting schools.
We definitely want to shout our amazing team behind the scenes:
Jolene Nelson served as our official timer,
Alex Klinger handled tech support,
Tiffany Kleidon and Matt Zupke ensured our judges and directors were well fed and cared for throughout the day,
Our Theatre Leadership Committee and One Act actors were incredible hosts—two even ran concessions for the event.
Despite a few little quirks of our facility like a sound booth and lighting setup that differ from many others in the area, everyone worked together and adapted beautifully. I also served as a support resource for other directors, helping them navigate our unique space and ensuring everyone felt welcomed and supported.
How did the day go? Do any moments stand out?
The day ran very smoothly! We stayed on schedule, students moved respectfully throughout the building, and the energy felt collaborative and focused. Watching students from across the region share their talents in such a cool way was a lot of fun. Not only that, but seeing them support each other was a powerful reminder of the purpose of this competition. It’s not just about winning, it’s about growth and connection.
What stood out most was our own students’ pride in their work. Even without advancing, they were clearly extremely proud of what they created. Parents shared how deeply they were moved by the performances and that’s what really matters. With theatre, the transformation that happens when students pour themselves into something bigger than themselves builds on so many essential skills through creative expression.
Why is it important for smaller districts like ACGC to have strong fine arts programming?
In smaller communities, fine arts programs are more than just extracurricular activities, they are creative lifelines for students wanting to explore these forms of expression. They offer students a voice, a purpose, and a community. Not every student will be a varsity athlete or academic standout, but theatre opens the door for anyone to shine in their own way.
Over the past decade, I’ve watched students who were shy, isolated, or unsure of themselves step into the spotlight—literally and figuratively and it gives them such a sense of confidence. I’ve had teachers tell me that kids who never spoke up in class found their voice on stage. I’ve had parents tell me that theatre changed their child’s confidence and outlook. That’s why it matters!
How does the Theatre program give students the chance to explore and soar?
Our Theatre program encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and into creativity, discipline, and leadership. We offer opportunities not just for performers, but for backstage crews, designers, costume assistants, tech operators, and more. Everyone finds their niche—and once they do, they flourish.
Many of our students now go on to perform in community theatre or study theatre in college. Some don’t pursue it professionally but carry the lessons of teamwork, time management, empathy, and storytelling with them for life. We are proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re excited for where we’re going!
