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

For the second time in three years, Early High School’s Longhorn Theatre Company is taking its One-Act Play to the UIL Class 3A state contest

The 24-member company’s “They Promised Her the Moon” — based on the real-life story of American aviatrix Jerrie Cobb — will compete at the state contest Wednesday, May 13 at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center.

According to UIL rules, a One-Act Play is limited to 40 minutes. “You have to get approval to cut the play down, so will be technically called ‘Scenes from They Promised Her the Moon,’” Early theatre director Caitlyn Tidwell said.

Sidney Sisemore, a 2021 graduate of Howard Payne University, is the co-director. “It’s really exciting,” Sisemore said of going to state competition. “It’s my first time ever going to state with anything. I couldn’t ask for a better cast to go with, a better director to go with.

“I’m excited. I’m a little terrified, but I’m really excited.”

The company of 24 includes four crew members, four alternates and a student director, Ellie Glasscock.

Tidwell summarized Cobb’s story:

“She was a famous pilot in her day back in the ‘50s and early 60s,” Tidwell said. “Her dad was a retired military pilot. She became a pilot and she broke all kinds of records. And as a woman, she faced a lot of discrimination.”

Cobb found a friend and mentor in Jackie Cochran, the woman who was head of the WASP (Wartime Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II.

“The reason it’s called ‘They Promised Her the Moon’ is because she was part of a little-known program called the Mercury 13, which, after John Glenn and the Mercury 7 came back from space, was a secret program … they were trying to put together a women in space program,” Tidwell said.

“However, NASA and Congress shut down the program, and she never got to go to space.”

The play ends with Cobb finding her second dream in life, which was to become a missionary pilot to the Amazon.

The Longhorn Theatre Company earned its trip to the state contest by competing at zone in early March, then at district, bi-district, area and region.

When asked what getting to state means to her as director, Tidwell said, “just everything. The honor of my life, besides raising my own children, is getting to work with these kids and getting to see them excel. So it’s always a very impactful experience when they do well. It means the world to me.”

In 2024, the Longhorn Theatre Company won the UIL Class 3A state championship for its One-Act play “Silent Sky.” Tidwell, as well as several of the current cast members, were part of the state contest.

“It’s still just as exciting,” Tidwell said. “My kids want to win just as much as they did in 2024. Of course, we’ve got new ones that have come in since then. But the thing about state is, just going to state is already the win. So you hope to win, but if you don’t, it’s still state and you still got to go. You’re still top eight out of hundreds.”

Tidwell quoted a man named Travis Poe, who she said is “very famous in the world of UIL One Act Play.”

“He famously said, and continues to say, that going to state is like the most delicious cupcake you’ve ever had in your whole life,” Tidwell said. “Placing top three at state is like the frosting on that cupcake. It’s the delicious, most sweetest frosting you’ve ever tasted.

“Winning state is like the strawberry or the cherry on top of the cupcake. It is the perfect cherry on top. However, even without the cherry and without the frosting, you still have the best cupcake you’ve ever had in your whole entire life. So that’s how we like to think about it.”