CSU One-Act Festival Begins Production

On Feb. 16, the Department of Theatre held its auditions for the annual One-Act Festival, a series of short plays starring, directed and produced solely by CSU students.

Student directors, actors and stage managers met in the CSU Lighting Lab on the second floor of the Riverside Theatre Complex for monologues and the chance to be cast in eight shows coming out before finals week.

Callbacks for the shows were held on Feb. 17 and 18, with finalized casts being decided afterward and production now in progress on each show.

The importance of a one-act from a learning perspective is high for those involved in the theatre. “The teamwork in the one-act process is absolutely phenomenal and I believe everyone should be in a one-act at least once,” said director Indya Morgan, a senior theatre major.

The educational aspects don’t just stop at teamwork. “I think it’s important to give students the opportunities to be cast who may not get to be in mainstage productions,” said director Carrie Moll, also a senior theatre major. “[It allows] many different students to work with their peers in collaboration.”

Director De’Marcus Monroe, a senior theatre major, feels that “One-acts are always a time for people who don’t get cast in Main Stage shows to work and show their talent,” not just for the actors, but the “lighting designers, stage managers and sound designers,” too.

Department of Theatre Chair Lawrence Dooley, Ph.D., believes that “these one-acts are wonderful ways for students to put their classroom learning into actual practice. It is a way for us to see a variety of works, and for student actors to demonstrate their skills as well.”

While one-acts provide a great learning opportunity, some directors enjoy the festival for different, sometimes controversial reasons. “I’ve chosen to direct a political comedy for the One-Act Festival because of the current situation in America. It’s important to recognize what’s happening in our country right now, and I think humor is a great way to communicate that,” said Director Nathan Petty, senior theatre major.

Other directors prefer the one-acts for their accessibility to audiences and broad appeal.

“This year’s festival has a show for anyone and everyone. We’re going from comedies about fairytales and fever dreams to romantic stories to tug on your heart strings, to more difficult statements about the treatment of minorities,” said Director Sarah Massey, senior theatre major.

Whether the process is educational, political or just there to entertain, the One-Acts Festival will provide CSU audiences with a wide range of genres and messages.

The eight shows, directed by Asher Brooks, Indya Bussey, Maggie Kamperman, Jenna Luke, Sarah Massey, Carrie Moll, Demarcus Monroe, and Nathan Petty, open on April 24-25.