Ranch teens seek center stage

EAST COUNTY — Even after hours of practice, Liberty Hobbs and Amanda Robbins couldn’t keep a straight face.

As the two rehearsed a scene from their play, “The Helen Hegeneres Show,” in Hobbs’ living room, slight variations in each girl’s tones and gestures sent them erupting into laughter.

“We had to look at something sad before we did it,” Hobbs said of performing the show last month at Lakewood Ranch High School.

The girls, along with Katelyn Glover, Kelsey Hallbeck and Savanna Wright, wrote the musical comedy as part of an end-of-year playwriting marathon orchestrated by Lakewood drama teacher Roxane Caravan. And, now, with summer under way, they hope to take their performance to the community at large.

“It got such a good response,” Hobbs said, noting the play took awards for best comedy, best script and best overall at the playwriting marathon. “We spent so much time on it, we felt like it should be performed over and over again.

“It was nonstop laughter,” she said. “It deserves to be shown around the community.”

Based on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” performers are interviewed by the show’s host, “Helen Hegeneres,” about relationships. Actresses, who play characters such as a boy-crazed teenager, cheating couple and an elderly virgin — perform five songs, including “Bad Romance,” by Lady Gaga, “Take a Hint,” by Victorious, and “I Will Survive,” by Gloria Gaynor, among other musical interludes during the humorous play.

The girls are looking for venues at which to perform the show this summer. There is no cost and the set-up is simple and flexible.

“(The show) runs about 30 minutes, but we could add to or condense it, as needed,” Hobbs said.

For information or to schedule a performance, contact Hobbs at [email protected].

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].