The lights ricochet off the cyc as the stage is suddenly covered in darkness. The ominous ocean blue lighting comes up as the Old Man (James Berry) turns around and exclaims, “It’s done.”

It’s just the beginning of  “Iphigenia,” the theatre company’s one-act play that advances to area Saturday, April 13.

“It’s been too long, and it’s the right group to get us out of the slump” of not advancing beyond bidistrict, director Casey O’Bryant said.

The last time O’Bryant directed  “Iphigenia” was 10 years ago, and that production made it to state.

“I don’t think there’s a work that matters more to me than this one simply because of personal ties to it, the success that it had, and the potential that it has,” he said.

The majority of the cast received bidistrict awards, including the Fates (played by Heavyn Carter and Itzel Schuessler), Clytemnestra (Elyse Williams), the Old Man (James Berry), Agamemnon (Rowen Hamilton) and Iphigenia (Evie Armour).

The most notable awards came from the multi-top performer Rowen Hamilton and other top performer Berry . The top two performers from all the schools in the competition were selected from the same school which is the first time this has occurred this year and is considered an anomaly.

Ella Winkler received recognition as outstanding technician as well as outstanding technical crew with Alyssa Reboulet, Jessica Bone and Alexia Veillette.