The theater encompasses many different details and techniques. In “One Acts,” a student-run production, people are able to embrace aspects of the theater by displaying their talents in acting, playwriting and directing. This year, the production is scheduled to run on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. and on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
Since this is the second year of “One Acts,” students have more time to focus on the quality of the production because the routine is more familiar. Jake Prizant and Ryan Wagner, theater board vice presidents, are already preparing for their second production of “One Acts.” Students involved can choose to either act, write, direct, or write and direct. Prizant and Wagner each wrote and directed one act plays in both last year and this year’s productions.
According to Wagner, the unique aspect of “One Acts” is that the production is almost exclusively student-run. Wagner said that having complete control of his short play is “excitingly scary.”
Having acted in multiple school productions, Wagner said that when you are playing a character, you are interpreting someone else’s work versus creating your own work. He also said that to make something yourself and then have people see it, there is a lot more responsibility. In these one act plays, students are responsible for both the success and failure that may or may not come of their performances.
Prizant and Wagner use different methods to get ideas for their stories. To begin the process, Prizant sits down and writes various “goofy” scenarios, eventually deciding on one particular idea and expanding it until it evolves into a full script. Wagner, on the other hand, focuses more on certain emotions and concepts before creating an actual story.
According to Amy Ticho, sponsor of the “One Acts” plays, the student directors do not just tell people where to go and what to say, but they also have to deal with the technical aspects of the production. Ticho said that students have to plan well and focus on the actual production such as getting and organizing the props they will be using in order to make the play come together solidly.
As one act plays are submitted, Prizant, Wagner and Ticho choose four scripts to be performed in “One Acts.” The writers and directors of those chosen scripts are then allowed to attend the auditions, held for actors, and choose people they are interested in to come back the next day for callbacks.
Prizant encourages all students to audition and said since the show is a smaller production, it is less of a time commitment and less intimidating than a bigger production.
Tickets for the production will be sold at the ticket booth starting Feb. 19, or they can be purchased at the door.