Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will host its annual student-directed One-Act Plays on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5-6, at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. The performances are free and open to the public.

The One-Act Plays are a project of a directing class and a requirement for students seeking to fulfill a theatre degree.

“The goal is twofold,” said Daniel Inouye, assistant professor of theatre arts, who teaches the directing class. “One is to provide an opportunity for our upper level theatre majors to direct their own production. The second is to provide the OBU campus a fun event (a study break you could say) right before finals week.”

“We are responsible for every single aspect of the play’s production,” said MaryLacey Thomson, a senior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas. “This incudes the set design, costumes, casting the play and scheduling rehearsals with our actors.” Thomson will direct The Chocolate Affair on Thursday night.

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase what we have learned during our time here at Ouachita and prepare us for more difficult responsibilities in the theatre world,” said Jordan Miller, a senior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas. Miller will direct Tough Choices for the New Century on Friday night.

This year, eight one-act plays will be performed over two nights. Thursday night’s performances include:

DR. FRITZ or The Forces of Light: Timothy Drennan, a senior musical theatre major from Paron, Ark., will direct this play by David Ives. This comedy follows an ill American tourist around Brazil as he searches for medical attention from the German Dr. Fritz. What he finds instead is the wacky local souvenir shop owner, Maria. Stage manager for the performance is Hannah Fender, a freshman musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark. Performing in the show are Michael Connell, a senior graphic design and computer science major from Little Rock, Ark., and Emily Shull, a freshman theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.

The Chocolate Affair: MaryLacey Thomson, a senior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, will direct this play by Stephanie Alison Walker. This comedy features a mother with a chocolate addiction who steals her daughter’s Halloween candy and is thus confronted by imaginary, talking chocolate bars. Stage manager for the performance is Dallas Sleeman, a freshman theatre arts major from Kentwood, Mich. Performing in the show are Bethany Gere, a junior musical theatre and communication sciences and disorders major from White Hall, Ark.; Kendrick Scorza, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; and Kathleen Suit, a sophomore theatre arts major from Hot Springs, Ark.

Tainted Love: Lola McClendon, a senior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark., will direct this play by Walter Wykes. In this drama a man reflects on pivotal scenes from a past relationship. Stage manager for this performance is Wes Savage, a freshman musical theatre major from Rudy, Ark. Performing in the show are Joe Ochterbeck, a senior theatre arts major from Maumelle, Ark.; Caitlin Secrest, a senior vocal performance major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; and Ben Stidham, a junior musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas.

Time Flies: Cody Myers, a senior musical theatre and psychology major from Van Buren, Ark., will direct this comedy by David Ives. This play shows a day in the life of flies Horace and May. Starting as awkward teenagers on a first date and ending as an elderly couple, these flies realize just how much can happen in 24 hours. Stage manager for this performance is Aaron Pinion, a sophomore theatre arts major from Tulsa, Okla. Performing in the show are Blakeley Knox, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark., and Tyler Wisdom, a junior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.

Friday night’s performances include:

The Actor’s Nightmare: Lindsey Lederer, a senior musical theatre major from Lewisville, Texas, will direct this play by Christopher Durang. This comedy revolves around a man who inexplicably ends up backstage at a play. Assuming it’s all a dream, he goes along with his given orders until the script calls for a seemingly too real execution. Stage manager for this performance is Emily Coles, a mass communications and graphic design major from Plano, Texas. Performing in the show are Tara Clem, a sophomore musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas; Walter Dodd, a sophomore theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Kaylee Nebe, a senior musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas; Bret Sanders, a freshman musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark.; and Jalin Wesley, a sophomore musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

The Dumb Waiter: Jacob Sturgeon, a senior musical theatre major from Pine Bluff, Ark., will direct this play by Harold Pinter. This drama follows two hit men as they await their next assignment. After a series of conversations and strange encounters with a “dumb waiter,” the play comes to a shocking conclusion. Stage manager for this performance is Kayla Esmond, a senior musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas. Performing in the show are Mattie Bogoslavsky, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Kyle Osmon, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark.; and Garrett Whitehead, a senior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas.

Tough Choices for the New Century: Jordan Miller, a senior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, will direct this play by Jane Anderson. This drama depicts the unfortunate unraveling of couple Bob and Helen Dooley’s relationship as they ironically give a seminar on preparedness. Stage manager for this performance is Rebekah Taylor, a junior history and secondary education major from Hot Springs, Ark. Performing in the show are Chad Burris, a junior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; Stacy Hawking, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.; and Jessica Smith, a junior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.

Words Words Words: Nicole Mattson, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas, will direct this play by David Ives. This play follows three monkeys in a research facility as they try to prove the infinite monkey theorem that given time and typewriters, three monkeys will eventually produce Hamlet. Stage manager for this performance is Taylor Ford, a freshman pre-pharmacy major from Dayton, Texas. Performing in the show are Lauren Hutcheson, a freshman musical theatre major from Bossier City, La.; Abby Root, a freshman theatre arts major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; and Blaine Surber, a senior musical theatre major from Sulphur Springs, Texas. 

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

By Taylor Tomlinson