Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will host its student-directed One-Act Play Festival on Thursday and Friday, May 1-2, at 8 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. This semester, eight one-acts plays will be performed over two nights.

“The One-Acts provide our senior students with a chance to be fully involved in all aspects of a play’s production; from choosing the play, to its casting, rehearsing, design and, finally, culminating in its performance,” said Daniel Inouye, assistant professor of theatre arts, who teaches the directing class. “It provides them an opportunity to put in to practice everything they have learned while at school here.”

“Directing the One-Acts is kind of the capstone of our theatre education,” said Lacey Johnson, a senior theatre arts and history major from Little Rock, Ark. “It allows us, as theatre students, to synthesize everything we've learned about the dramatic process into one project.” Johnson will direct The Third Angle on Friday night.

“I think it's important as a person of the theatre to direct because it allows a whole new wave of creativity,” said Jillian Kaniss, a senior theatre arts and psychology major from Texarkana, Texas. “You get to create your own art and have audience members take a journey that you want them to take. It's exhilarating to know that you can impact people with the work you put on the stage.” Kaniss will direct Hello Out There on Thursday night.

Thursday night’s performances include:

Hello Out There: Jillian Kaniss will direct this play by William Saroyan. Set in a small town Texas jail, this play follows a young felon as he falls in love with the jail’s cook and plots his escape. Stage manager for the performance is Melanie Herring, a junior art and dietetics and nutrition major from Rison, Ark. Performing in the show are Aaden Jones, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Aaron Pinion, a sophomore theatre arts major from Tulsa, Okla.; Kenderick Scorza, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Caitlin Secrest, a senior vocal performance major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Dallas Sleeman, a sophomore theatre arts major from Kentwood, Mich.; and Garrett Whitehead, a senior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas.

Urashima the Fisherman: Kayla Esmond, a senior musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas, will direct this play by David F. Eliet. The play retells an ancient Japanese ghost story about a man whisked away to the immortal world. In time, the old man discovers the truth behind the saying “be careful what you wish for.” Stage manager for the performance is Garrett Sayers, a sophomore musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark. Performing in the show are Sarah Cate, a senior Christian studies/Christian missions major; Tori Clark, a junior choral music education major from Bonnerdale, Ark.; Tara Clem, a junior musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas; Will Combs, a sophomore physics major from Hot Springs Village, Ark.; John Doss, a senior music major from Rogers, Ark.; Jessica Smith, a senior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; and Blaine Surber, a senior musical theatre major from Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Here We Are: Lauren Linton, a senior musical theatre major from Coldwater, Miss., will direct this play by Dorothy Parker. The comedy follows a newlywed couple as they embark on their honeymoon and the awkwardness of new love that ensues. Performing in the show are Stacy Hawking, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark., and Tyler Wisdom, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

Shotgun: Joe Ochterbeck, a senior theatre and mass communications major from Maumelle, Ark., will direct this play by Romulus Linney. The play depicts the honest and pathetic struggle of a man dredging through his past and present in search of love, truth, and meaning. Stage manager for the performance is Shonna Jasperson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas. Performing in the show are Chad Burris, a junior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; Walter Dodd, a sophomore theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; DeCarl Jones, a senior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas; Angela Morgan, a junior musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark.; and Hailey Weiner, a sophomore musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

Friday night’s performances include:

Haiku: Kaylee Nebe, a junior musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas, will direct this play by Katherine Snodgrass. The drama depicts a young mentally ill woman who, during her moments of lucidity, creates beautiful haiku. The play highlights the woman’s urge to be seen for who she is on the inside, especially by her bitter and disappointed sister. Stage manager for the performance is Katelyn Mason, a freshman vocal performance major from Frisco, Texas. Performing in the show are Lauren Hutcheson, a freshman musical theatre and education major from Bossier City, La.; Caitlyn Johnson, a senior early childhood education major from Winnsboro, Texas; and Kathleen Suit, a junior theatre arts major from Hot Springs, Ark.

Naomi in the Living Room: Brooke Brackett, a senior theatre arts major from Springdale, Ark., will direct this play by Christopher Durang. This dark comedy revolves around a man and his wife visiting his mentally unstable mother at her house. Performing in the show are Hannah Fender, a freshman musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.; Abby Root, a freshman theatre arts major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; and Jacob Sturgeon, a senior musical theatre major from Pine Bluff, Ark.

The Third Angle: Lacey Johnson will direct this comedy by Florence Ryerson. The play chronicles a woman’s effort to play “the third angle” when she realizes she is in a love triangle with her husband and his new mistress. Performing in the show are Timothy Drennan, a senior musical theatre major from Paron, Ark.; Natalie Williams, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; and Cami Willis, a senior musical theatre and church media major from Flower Mound, Texas.

The Next Contestant: Sarah Lynnette Davis, a senior theatre arts and Christian studies/Christian missions major from Bedford, Texas, will direct this play by Frank D. Gilroy. This sardonic play revolves around a contestant on a fictional game show, who is challenged to get a date with his ex-girlfriend. Stage manager for the performance is Bret Sanders, a freshman musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark. Performing in the show are Mattie Bogoslavsky, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Jarrod Myers, a sophomore psychology student at Henderson State University from Texarkana, Texas; and Kayla Walker, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

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

By Taylor Tomlinson