For the eighth consecutive time, the Okarche High School speech team has advanced to the state one-act play contest.

This year’s production of “The Insanity of Mary Girard” qualified for the state competition by placing at one of three regional competitions held earlier in October.

Okarche placed third at the Alva regional behind first-place Alva and second-place Okeene.

Those three groups, along with casts from Leedey, Cherokee, Lincoln Christian, Cheyenne, Latta and Metro Christian will compete this Saturday, Oct. 26, in the Class 4A state competition at Mustang High School.

Okarche will perform at 3:50 p.m.

OHS is the reigning Class 4A state champion in one-act play.

The OHS drama this year is based on the true story of Mary Girard, a woman who was placed in a mental institution by her husband back in the 1790’s. Mary is visited by six “furies,” who help her trace the events leading to her confinement and show her the future.

The cast includes Carsyn Taylor as Mary Girard; Mikaila Kraus, Jacilyn Pannell, Kenzie Beard, Marley Hill, Emily Neuenschwander, and Mackenzie Stewart as the Furies; Matt Carney as the warder and Stephen Girard; Chloe Meacham as Mrs. Lum, Mary’s mother; Trenton Niederer as Mr. Phillips; Riley Austin as Polly Kenton; Kylie Bailey as Mrs. Hatcher; and Riley Black, Tori Spomer, and Emma Stover as phantoms.

The running crew includes stage managers Grace Krittenbrink and Lyric Hickok; lighting technicians Kaylea Steelman, Darren Rayburn and Michael Dunkin; and sound technicians Derek Mueggenborg and Sara Leck.