ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will host its annual student-directed One-Act Plays on Thursday, Dec. 6, and Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. All performances are free and open to the public.
The plays are a part of a directing class in which each student directs a one-act play in order to fulfill the requirements for their theatre degrees. “The course serves as a capstone for students pursuing a theatre arts degree,” said Daniel Inouye, Ouachita assistant professor of theatre arts, who teaches the directing class. “It gives students their own opportunity to put together a production from start to finish.”
Through the One-Act Plays students are given the opportunity to direct other students within the Ouachita theatre department. “I am so proud of my cast for how hard they’ve worked at making this show come to life,” senior director Heather White said. “There are a lot of elements involved that have to be perfectly lined up in order for it to work. They’ve done a magnificent job of delving into a different time period and making it their own so that can happen.”
Student directors participating in these performances have the opportunity to bring together all of the skills, techniques and disciplines they have learned through their coursework at Ouachita. “I’ve had students graduate and go out to work in multiple layers of the theatre industry, from small community theatres to big-time productions,” Inouye said. “Although many students may not intend to teach or direct, it’s very beneficial for them to understand that other side of things.”
This year nine one-act plays will be performed over two nights. The four performances on Thursday include:
The Purple Doorknob: Shay Michael, a senior musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas, will direct the play by Walter Eaton. Stage manager for the performance is Tara Clem, a freshman musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas. Performing in the show are Blakeley Knox, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark.; Bethany Swiontek, a senior musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Natalie Williams, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark. This performance follows a young actress seeking to purchase an antique belonging to an elderly woman. To achieve her goal, the young actress puts on a theatrical performance for the bed-ridden woman, even incorporating her as one of the characters.
The Universal Language: Amanda Murray, a senior musical theatre major from Racine, Wis., will direct the play by David Ives. Stage manager for the performance is Breanne Goodrum, a senior mass communications major from Fort Smith, Ark. Performing in the show are Cody Myers, a junior psychology and musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; Kayla Esmond, a junior musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas; and Nicole Mattson, a junior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas. This performance brings together Dawn, a woman who stutters, and Don, a man who has created his own language, in a tongue-twisting display of verbal fireworks.
And No Birds Sing: Alison Johnson, a senior musical theatre major from Shreveport, La., will direct the play by Mary Keith Cox. Stage manager for the performance is Brooke Brackett, a junior theatre arts major from Springdale, Ark. Performing in the show are Lauren Linton, a junior musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn.; Gabi Baltzley, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; DeCarl Jones, a junior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas; Belle Yagela, a Henderson State University student from Tanzania, Africa; Robby Taylor, a sophomore musical theatre major from Harriman, Tenn.; Jalin Wesley, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Kenderick Scorza, a freshman theatre arts major from North Little Rock, Ark.; and Seth Russell, a freshman vocal performance major from Crossett, Ark. This performance follows a variety of characters in a train station just days before Christmas. While anticipating the new life changes they will soon undergo, the individuals fall victim to the self-destruction of disillusionment.
The American Century: Garrett Whitehead, a junior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas, will direct the play by Murphy Gyer. Stage manager for the performance is Danielle Love, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark. Performing in the show are Joe Ochterbeck, a junior theatre arts major from Maumelle, Ark.; Elizabeth Wheeler, a freshman psychology major from Alexander, Ark.; and Jordan Miller, a junior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas. This performance follows an all-American couple from the 1940s as they discover that their future may not be as certain as they would think. Later, their bum of a daughter visits from the future and informs them that their life is not as great as they had hoped.
Friday night’s five performances include:
Fourteen: Kelley Lester, a senior speech and theatre arts major from Bismarck, Ark., will direct the play by Alice Gerstenberg. Stage manager for the show is Lily Taylor, a freshman musical theatre major from Harriman, Tenn. Performing in the show are Jillian Kaniss, a junior psychology major from Texarkana, Texas; Hailey Weiner, a freshman musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.; and Aaron Pinion, a freshman theatre arts major from Tulsa, Okla. This performance showcases the hardships of planning and executing a dinner party in the 1920s.
Juliet: Gemma Guiomard, a junior musical theatre major from DeSoto, Texas, will direct the play by Romulus Linney. Stage manager for the performance is Bethany Gere, a sophomore musical theatre major from White Hall, Ark. Performing in the show are Chad Burris, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; Shannon Huntsman, a sophomore speech communication major from Little Rock, Ark.; MaryLacey Thomson, a junior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas; and Betsy Wilson, a senior musical theatre major from Houston, Texas. This performance illustrates the idea that what happens on the stage connects deeply to “real life”.
Forbidden Fruit: Heather White, a senior musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, will direct the play by George Jay Smith. Stage manager for the performance is Jessica Smith, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark. Performing in the show are Caitlin Secrest, a junior vocal performance major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Lola McClendon, a senior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Jacob Sturgeon, a junior musical theatre major from Pine Bluff, Ark.; Ben Stidham, a sophomore musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas; and Blaine Surber, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sulphur Springs, Texas. This performance is a stylistically dramatized comedic satire detailing the frivolity of lavish living, as well as the ridiculous methods used to go about trying to obtaining what we desire.
The Cask of Amontillado: Tyler Herron, a senior theatre arts major from Rosston, Ark., will direct the play by Steven Shutzman. Stage manager for the performance is John David Whitmore, a sophomore musical theory and composition major from Rogers, Ark. Performing in the show are Timothy Drennan, a junior musical theatre major from Paron, Ark.; Tyler Wisdom, a sophomore musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.; and Melanie Herring, a freshman dietetics/nutrition and art major from Rison, Ark. This performance is an adaptation of the haunting Edgar Allan Poe short story, The Cask of Amontillado. Audience members are given a look into the mind of Montresor, who has been insulted and emotionally tortured by the wine aficionado, Fortunato.
The Noble Lord: Michelle Levy, a senior musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas, will direct the play by Percival Wilde. Stage manager for the performance is Cami Willis, a sophomore musical theatre major from Flower Mound, Texas. Performing in the show are Sara Williams, a freshman biology and psychology major from Roland, Ark.; Ben Perry, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; and Matthew Ablon, a freshman English major from Paris, Texas. This performance details a strange encounter between Lord Brookfield and an undisclosed female character who has fallen victim to a perilous situation. Twists and turns accompany the duo through the show that climaxes in a jaw-dropping conclusion.
Additional crew members include: Alyssa Eskelsen, a senior music major from Bryan, Texas; C.J. Bernard, a sophomore theatre arts major from Sherwood, Ark.; Shonna Jasperson, a freshman theatre arts major from Houston, Texas; Kaylee Nebe, a sophomore musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas; Sarah Davis, a senior theatre arts major from Bedford, Texas; and Lindsey Lederer, a senior musical theatre major from Carrollton, Texas.
Inouye encouraged students and area residents to attend performances on both evenings to view distinctly different performances. “The performances this year will take on a comedic and humorous tone,” he added. “This is an opportunity for students to enjoy an entertaining and relaxing atmosphere.”
For more information, contact Daniel Inouye at inouyed@obu.edu or (870) 245-5522.
