Ouachita’s 11th annual Ten Minute Play Festival, also known as “all-night theater,” is on its way. As students mentally prepare themselves for the auditions, the producers are busy preparing everything else as with any audition. However, all-night theater is not a normal production at Ouachita. It has a very unique process behind the scenes.
Usually, when an actor auditions for something, they know exactly what show they are auditioning for, who the director is and who wrote the production. But with this particular production, the students are completely in the dark.
Months in advance, students are allowed to send in scripts that they have written to be performed in the play festival. Students are also allowed to send in applications to be a director. But when these people are picked, no student aside from the producers is allowed to know which has been chosen.
“Any audition is always nerve-wracking,” said Jalin Wesley, sophomore musical theater major. “But this one was particularly scary because you are auditioning for a plethora of shows that you know nothing about. But thankfully the directors saw a spark in me. The play I was in last year for all night theater was one of my favorite and most challenging roles.”
Auditioning students will come into the theater and read a short part of a script chosen for them in addition to any other small things they are asked to do in front of the producers without any clue of what they are auditioning for.
After everyone who wishes to audition has finished, the producers decide which play to place them in. The students will not know who their director is or the play they have been cast in until they walk into the room they are assigned to rehearse in, which they will be told via their student email.
“I enjoy the fact that it’s fast because I am super busy as are most college students,” said Robby Taylor, sophomore musical theater major. “And if it was a longer audition process, like for the musical, a lot of people would not be able to participate.”
And, just as the directors and plays change out every year, so do the producers. This year’s producers, also known as the Triumvirate, include Garrett Whitehead, junior musical theater major, Blaine Surber, a sophomore musical theater major, and Jordan Miller, a junior musical theater major.
Sarah Davis, a junior Christian studies and theatre double major and a previous director of the ten minute plays, is excited about all-night theater.
“This is my favorite part of the year,” she said. “Because as a theater student I get to act and work with people I don’t normally work with. It’s a crazy experience unlike any other.”
Auditions for the Ten Minute Play Festival will be held at Verser Theatre tonight from 5 – 7 p.m. Any student of any major is allowed to audition.
“It’s a great experience for those who haven’t been involved a lot in theater, because it gives them a taste of theater without them having to make a huge time commitment,” said Jacob Sturgeon, junior musical theater major. “Everyone is welcome. It’s easygoing, so just jump in and have fun.”
For more information about the Ten Minute Play Festival, contact Daniel Inouye at inouyed@obu.edu.
