Story, photos courtesy of Steve Nash – Special Contributor to BrownwoodNews.com

“This is a life.”

That’s how Early High School senior Emma Blanton responded when asked if the Longhorn Theatre Company’s One-Act Play “They Promised Her the Moon” should be described as an adventure or a drama.

Blanton portrays aviatrix Jerrie Cobb from the age of 6 into her 30s. Cobb, who was born in 1931, died in 2019 at the age of 88.

The Longhorn Theatre Company will perform the play at the UIL Class 3A One-Act Play State Meet Wednesday, May 13 in Austin.

Blanton was part of the 2024 cast that won the UIL Class 3A One-Act Play State Meet for its performance of “Silent Sky.”

“It definitely feels different,” Blanton said, contrasting this year’s trip to state with 2024. “I don’t think I was mature enough to fully appreciate going to state the first time. Initially I was an ensemble (member) and now being in a lead position, it’s totally different because every performance, it feels raw. It’s just honest emotion flowing.

“We’re not nervous anymore because I feel like, we were so nervous (thinking), ‘will we get to state?’ And now that we’re going there, it feels like such an honor and a privilege to get to share our hope and our love of our show with everyone.”

Blanton said of portraying Jerrie Cobb, “It’s so amazing to be able to show a woman who worked her entire life to promoting women, and having the opportunity to share that message and to honor the legacy that she left.

“This is a life, this is a story, it’s real, it’s present and I feel like when you watch it you should feel like you’re just watching someone live.”

Molly Claborn, also an Early High School senior, portrays Jackie Cochran, an aviatrix who became Cobb’s friend and mentor. Claborn was a member of the 2024 cast that won state.

“I definitely feel like we’re a little more competitive this time around,” Claborn said. “Last time, I believe that it was the shock of getting to state at all — that was the fun part, and then we just really enjoyed ourselves. And then this time, I think that we’re a little bit more focused going into it. We’re still going to have an awesome time, but we’re just excited to be there.”

Claborn said the cast will be performing in a large auditorium at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center. “So, there’s a little bit of nerves performing in front of so many people, but also, we’re not trying to advance from this contest,” Claborn said.

“This is the end-all, be-all, so I just think we’re going to leave it all out on the stage and have a great time.”

Ellie Glasscock, also a senior, is a student director. “I’m the creative assistant and assistant director, and I recently stepped on as a sound technician,” Glasscock said. “As a creative assistant, I help with just making sure that everything looks good on stage, making sure that it goes all together cohesively during rehearsals, just making sure that all the blocking works and everything is cohesive.”

Glasscock was an ensemble member in the Longhorn Theatre Company’s 2024 cast of “Silent Sky.”

“It was definitely surreal, because we had never been before, and it was not expected,” Glasscock said of the 2024 trip to state. “But it was so cool to see how everyone supported us when we went.”

“Last time, I think we couldn’t really wrap our heads around it, so it was, just so grateful to be there.

“Obviously this year we’re grateful again, but this year, we have more of an idea of what it’s like, so it’s not quite as intimidating.”