Ouachita’s 7th annual Ten-Minute Play Festival is being held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in Verser Theater.
A triumvirate of juniors Michael Krikorian, Rachel Street and sophomore Katie Willhite are producing the event which will feature six plays written, acted and directed by Ouachita students.
“It’s a chance for people who might be intimidated or might not have the time to do regular theater productions to be able to come in and have a weekend where they can just perform or direct or write,” Willhite said. “It’s a way for people who aren’t necessarily theater majors to get involved.”
Ten-minute scripts were submitted to the three by students from all different majors and disciplines.
“When we call for scripts, we usually get a pretty good turnout,” Krikorian said. “Last year we had about 14. This year we had about 12 turned in.”
Copies of the scripts were given to a panel of judges made up of Ouachita professors from different disciplinary departments who rank the scripts on a scale of 1-12.
“I’ve read about three or four and so far they’ve been really good,” Krikorian said. “I’m really impressed with the work the students are doing.”
Krikorian said the group compiled the judge’s scores and picked the winning plays yesterday, March 11. That is also the day the scripts will be matched with directors.
Auditions for actors for the festival will be today in Verser Theater from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
“It’s kind of a come and go thing,” Krikorian said. “You come and audition, then you leave. We’ll give you sides [excerpts from plays] to read. You don’t need to come with a monologue prepared because the way we cast the shows is that we usually use everybody. We never have enough people. We really encourage people to come and audition.”
After the actors are matched with plays, they will have an all-night, 24-hour rehearsal with their directors from 6 p.m. on Friday, March 13 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14.
“One of the things that scares people when you say ‘all night’; you rarely stay there for the entire night,” Krikorian said. “You have a slot where you come in and rehearse and then you’ll probably go sleep then come back.”
Street said the festival is a good time for the students putting on the performances to bond and form new friendships.
“We have some of the most random people that will audition and it’s great because you … integrate the theater kids with the rest of the school,” Street said. “When it’s two in the morning and you’re acting out a play, things go crazy. But it’s a good experience.”
A new aspect to the event this year is the creation of people’s choice awards which will be given to the audience’s choice for best actress, actor and play.
“I want the students to be able to acknowledge their fellow students in their work,” Krikorian said. “We have some really awesome talent at this school and this is one way that we can utilize a whole area of it as far as writing, acting, directing [and] producing.”
Krikorian said the Ten-Minute Play Festival is free of cost and will not last more than an hour and 30 minutes, so if “you can’t come and audition, please come and support your fellow students.”
