Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host its annual One Act Play Festival Dec. 10 and 11 in Verser Theatre on Ouachita’s campus. Each night, students will perform five different student-directed one act plays. Each evening’s performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public and free of charge.

Thursday night’s performances begin with Murray Schisgal’s Extensions, a nostalgic comedy directed by Krysteena Koiner, a senior musical theatre major from Fort Worth, Texas. Actors include: Adam Wheat, a senior mass communications major from Rustin, La., and Alyssa Thomas, a freshman musical theatre major from Malvern, Ark. Lindsey Upshaw, a freshman from Sheridan, Ark., will serve as stage manager.

Second on Thursday will be D.M. Bocaz Larson’s Nobody Famous, a situational comedy directed by Kyle Huey, a senior musical theatre major from Grapevine Texas. Actors include: Katie Willhite, a junior theatre arts and Christian Studies major from Rowlett, Texas; Lynley Vire, a junior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark.; Cessany Ford, a junior musical theatre major from Paragould, Ark.; Lauren Casteel, a junior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas; Rance Collins, a senior mass communications major from Hillsboro, Texas; and Trey Baldwin, a senior political science major from Forrest City, Ark. C.E. Fifer of Olney, Ill., will serve as stage manager.

Thursday’s third play will be Alice Gerstenberg’s Overtones, an expressionistic satire directed by Jeffery Clark Stokes, a senior theatre major from Gilmer, Texas. Actors include: Kathryn Lee Kellogg, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.; Rachel Harris, a junior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Moriah Patterson, a sophomore theatre major from Sheridan, Ark.; and Ashley Nicole Partridge, a junior musical theatre major from Baton Rouge, La.

Fourth on Thursday will be Julie McKee’s Invitation to a Funeral, a comedy directed by Chris Straw, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock. Actors include: Molly Brown, a junior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas, and Samantha Spradling, a sophomore theatre arts major from Italy, Texas. Courtnee Stewart, a freshman theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark., will serve as stage manager.

Thursday’s final performance will be Richard Greenburg’s The Author’s Voice, a drama directed by Daniel Collier, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock. Actors include: Taylor Bass, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas; Rudy Jones, a sophomore English and theatre arts major from Smackover, Ark,; and Samantha Parrish, a senior musical theatre major from Forney, Texas. Alexis Pace, a freshman musical theatre major from Sugarland, Texas, will serve as stage manager.

Friday’s performances open with George Kaufman and Leueen McGrath’s Amicable Parting, a drama directed by Lindsey Forga, a senior musical theatre major from Glenwood, Ark. Actors include: Bethany Swiontek, a freshman musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Will Sonheim, a senior at Arkadelphia High School from Arkadelphia, Ark. Michele Beach, a freshman musical theatre major from Denton, Texas, will serve as stage manager.

Second on Friday will be David Ives' Variations on the Death of Trotsky, a dark comedy directed by Rachel Street, a senior musical theatre major from Mahomet, Ill. Actors include: Jacob Way, a freshman history and secondary education major from Heath, Texas; John Blunkell, a freshman church music major from Hot Springs, Ark.; and Cortnie Devore, a junior musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark.

Friday’s third play will be David Ives’ The Philadelphia, a comedy directed by Greg Schwartz, a senior theatre arts and mass communications major from Texarkana, Texas. Actors include: Jared Tohlen, a senior graphic design major from Raymore, Mo.; Jacob Watson, a junior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark.; and Amanda Murray, a freshman musical theatre major from Racine, Wis.

Fourth on Friday will be Dorothy Parker’s Here We Are, a comedy directed by Heather Baker, a senior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas. Actors include: Michael Krikorian, a senior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas; Heather White, a freshman musical theatre major from Houston, Texas; Tristan Wooster, a freshman Christian studies major from Mansfield, Texas; Katie Harris, a freshman graphic design major from Little Rock; and Patrick Copeland, a freshman church music major from Mansfield, Texas. Daniela Novotna, a freshman vocal performance major from Texarkana, Texas, will serve as stage manager.

The festival will conclude with Willie Reale’s Many Happy Returns, a comedy directed by Jody Lee, a senior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas. Actors include Xavier Lagunas, a freshman musical theatre and mass communications major from Arlington, Texas, and Beth Kohl, a sophomore English major from Harrisburg, Mo.

For more information, call the JPAC Box Office at (870) 245-5129.