Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s department of theatre arts will host its annual student-directed One Act Plays on Thursday, Dec. 9, and Friday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. All performances are free and open to the public.

Each student director presents a one act play as a culmination of their play directing class, a requirement for their theatre degrees.

“Since the work is all done by students, it is a great way to support your fellow students here at Ouachita in their creative endeavors,” said Daniel Inouye, Ouachita’s assistant professor of theatre arts who is teaching the directing class. “It’s always nice to take a break from all the studying and cramming for finals that happens at the end of the semester.”

“It’s a great opportunity to finally be directing a show,” said Molly Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas. Brown will direct The Diary of Adam and Eve on Friday evening. “I’ve acted in the one acts before but I never really realized how much work goes in to all of the designing and technical aspects required of the director.

“It’s really a great experience all around to be able to help other actors discover their characters, find what techniques work or don’t work for them,” Brown added. “I feel like it’s improved my ability to act, as well.”

“We have a true eclectic mix of plays this year ranging from comedies to broken-hearted loss,” Inouye noted.

“It’s great to see the shows that everybody chooses, I think it reveals the personalities of the directors which is always fun. I’ve loved being a part of the acting process every year and I can’t wait to direct my own,” said Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark. Watson will be acting in The Angel Intrudes Friday evening.

Thursday night’s performance order is as follows:

Steven Miller, a senior theatre major from Arlington, Texas, will direct He Said and She Said by Alice Gerstenberg. Stage manager for this show is Doug Brady, a senior musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas. Performing in the show are Gemma Guiomard, a freshman musical theatre major from DeSoto, Texas; Ben Perry, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Alyssa Eskelsen, a sophomore musical theatre major from Bryan, Texas; and Lauren Casteel, a senior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas. This comedy shows how an old lady’s gossip almost ruins a long friendship.

Samantha Spradling, a junior theatre arts major from Italy, Texas, will direct The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang. Justin Ratliff, a freshman musical theatre major from Whitehouse, Texas, will serve as stage manager. Performers include Xavier Lagunas, a junior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas; Moriah Patterson, a senior musical theatre major from Sheridan, Ark.; Amanda Murray, a sophomore musical theatre major from Racine, Wis.; Patrick Copeland, a sophomore kinesiology and fitness double major from Mansfield, Texas; and Angela Morgan, a freshman musical theater major from Bryant, Ark. This show follows George Spelving, who finds himself on a bare stage with no idea how he got there or who he is.

Cortnee Stewart, a junior theatre major from Cabot, Ark., will direct The Man Who Couldn't Dance by Jason Katims. Stage manager for the show is Bekah Hall, a musical theatre major from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Performing are Sarah Davis, a Christian studies and theatre major from Bedford, Texas, and Joe Ochterbeck, a theatre major from Maumelle, Ark. This drama follows two former lovers seeking answers about their failed relationship.

Cortnie DeVore, a senior musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark., will direct Sure Thing by David Ives. Serving as stage manager is Callie Chancey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Branson, Mo., and assistant stage manager is Ben Reeves, a senior church music major from Hot Springs, Ark. Performers are Amanda Hopkins, a freshman musical theatre major from Grand Prairie, Texas, and Cody Myers, a freshman musical theatre and psychology major from Van Buren, Ark. An invisible bell continually resets this play depicting a chance meeting and conversation between two strangers.

Friday night’s performance order is as follows:

Cessany Ford, a senior theatre major from Paragould, Ark., will direct The Angel Intrudes by Floyd Dell. Serving as stage manager is Carolyn Baker, a musical theatre major from Garland, Texas. Performing are Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark.; Timothy Drennan, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; and Nicole Mattson a freshman musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas.

Molly Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas, will direct Mark Bucci’s adaptation of Mark Twain’s The Diary of Adam and Eve. The stage manager will be Jordan Miller, a freshman musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas. Performing are Rudy Jones, a junior theatre arts and mass communications major from Smackover, Ark; Kathryn Kellogg, a junior musical theatre and mass communications major from Sherwood, Ark.; and Tyler Herron, a freshman church media and production arts and technical theatre major from Rosston, Ark. This comedy reexamines the life, love and trials of the two familiar Bible characters in Twain’s witty voice.

Ashley Partridge, a senior music theatre major from Russellville, Ark., will direct Heart in the Ground by Douglas Hill. Stage managers will be Jillian Kaniss, a freshman psychology and theatre arts major from Texarkana, Texas, and Jody Lee, a senior theatre arts and music major from Arlington, Texas. This drama follows Karen and Lee, a couple who has just lost their three-week-old daughter.

Katie Willhite, a senior Christian studies and theatre arts major from Rowlett, Texas, will direct Blind Date by Horton Foote. The stage manager will be Katelyn Helton, a sophomore musical theatre major from Grand Prairie, Texas. Performing are MaryLacy Thomson, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas; Jacob Sturgeon, a freshman music education major from Pine Bluff, Ark.; CJ Bernard, a freshman theatre arts and education major from Anchorage, Alaska; and Gabriela Baltzley, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark. This comedy depicts young singles navigating the world of first dates in the world of Southern etiquette and hospitality.

Lynley Vire, a senior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark., will direct Ferris Wheel by Mary Miller. Brooke Brackett, a freshman musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark., will serve as stage manager. Performing are Garrett Whitehead, a freshman theatre arts major from Cleburne, Texas, and Heather White, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas. This unlikely love story follows two lonely people forced to ride together on a Ferris wheel.

For more information, contact Daniel Inouye at [email protected] or (870) 245-5522.

By Meg Gosser