Over the summer, Liberty Hill High School (LHHS) juniors John Langford and JC McCrary traveled to Indiana to represent LHHS at the International Thespian Festival. To celebrate Arts in Education Week, let’s chat with them about that experience and how being a Liberty Hill theater student has shaped them.

John and JC have been friends since elementary school at Bill Burden Elementary School, and both joined the theater while at Liberty Hill Intermediate School. That simple elective choice when they were younger has given them a family of friends and a passion to act that they hope to carry into college. 

Kasie Kline, LHMS Theater teacher, recalls their talent, “I recognized John and JC's talent as early as sixth grade. From the very beginning, they displayed a natural energy and enthusiasm for theater that set them apart. They eagerly embraced every opportunity to perform, bringing animation and commitment to each role. It has been a joy to witness their growth - not only as young actors honing their craft, but also as friends who share a genuine love for theater. I am incredibly proud of the artists and individuals they have become.”

John and JC qualified for Indianapolis this past summer after scoring a superior rating at the Texas State Thespian Festival last November. While in Indianapolis, they performed a piece from “The Hobbit” in duet acting and once again received the highest rating. They credit their friendship off the stage with helping them perform on stage. According to JC, “We've been essentially best friends since we've started, and we always have good timing off each other. We’ve just been around each other as we've grown as actors, and that's been really helpful.” John agreed that they could just subconsciously trust each other. If one goes off-script, the other goes along with it, making their timing and humor come out to play.

Both love the ability to perform and really get into character. John loves, “when I can step out of John Langford- physically, verbally, whatever and then in the performance to feel that all just happen, and know everything's coming together.” JC feels the same, “I like putting on a show. I like getting to become a different person than myself. It’s always fun to create a whole new character, whether it's a sea captain or a circus freak. It's awesome to create a whole new identity and to go fluidly in and out of it whenever you want.”

The hardest part for both of them isn’t memorizing lines or stage fright like one might think. For John, focusing on just the lines with a new character is hard because he is already thinking of his accent his body movements on stage, and all of the other aspects which come after learning the lines. Their other struggle - not breaking character and laughing on stage with their fellow classmates which they both said feel like family to them. They credited their theater troop with being “the most positive group on campus” and “our biggest fans”. 

“John and JC are true leaders of this theater program. They are constantly looking to reinvent the wheel when it comes to character work and performance style. They're dedicated to their craft, and they inspire others in the program to do the same. As actors, they are always willing to put in the work. It's more than just memorizing lines. It's about observation, research, and creativity. They do all of those things well, and without being told to do them. That's the sign of a good actor,” said their LHHS theater teacher, Sarah Beauchamp. 

They’d love to return to Indianapolis next summer and wanted to give a shout-out to JC’s mom, Kelly, for helping them get there. As the only two qualifiers from LHHS, John and JC were ultimately paired up with another school that had a larger troop, allowing them to attend with a school sponsor. They also spoke highly of Ms. Kline and Ms. Beauchamp for providing them with fantastic opportunities to perform and helping them improve each time.

After high school, they are both considering theater as part of their adult life. John wants to become a teacher and plans to minor in theater in college. JC would love to pursue live theater full-time and hopes to return to his hometown of Seattle. Until then, you can see John and JC perform this year when LHHS puts on “The Outsiders” this fall, “A Midsummer Night's Dream” for UIL One Act, and “The Revolutionists” this spring.

Kline shared, “The best thing John and JC bring to the stage is their genuine love for telling a story. Their joy in performing is contagious, and they carry with them a friendship that shines through in every role. Together, they remind us that theater is not only about craft, but also about heart.”

Thank you, John and JC, for chatting and sharing your heart for theater with our community. You are truly champions on stage!