Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will host its annual One Act Play Festival on Dec. 10-11 at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. The performances are free and open to the public.

The One-Act Play Festival is a required part of a senior level course for theatre majors. These seniors choose a play of their choosing, cast the actors and direct the plays. Auditions for these plays are open to anyone on the campus, so students from all majors have the opportunity to participate in the festival. This year’s festival includes nine different performances.

“Audiences can expect a variety,” said Dr. Scott Holsclaw, professor of theatre arts. “They will see comedies, dramas, stylistic dramatic pieces and interesting character studies.”

Thursday night’s performances include:

Crazy Eights: Garrett Sayers, a senior musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark., will direct this play written by David Lindsay-Abaire. In the play, a woman comes home to her apartment late at night to find her parole officer waiting for her with a torte and list of questions. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the woman’s card-playing buddy. Stage manager for this production is Hope Wakeling, a sophomore theatre arts major from Bryant, Ark. Performing in this production are Kenzie Osborn, a freshman musical theatre major from Heath, Texas; Aaden Jones, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Andrew Crook, a sophomore mathematics major from Little Rock, Ark.; and Jalin Wesley, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

Plan B: Bethany Gere, a senior musical theatre major from White Hall, Ark., will direct this play written by Robert Scott. The play follows a married couple that has several marital problems. The couple finds themselves in the emergency room on their wedding anniversary where they meet a mysterious stranger who helps them work through their problems. Stage manager for this production is Mercedes Mata, a freshman musical theatre major from Benton, Ark. Performing in this production are Blaine Surber, a senior musical theatre major from Sulphur Springs, Texas; Kathleen Suit, a senior theatre arts major from Hot Springs, Ark.; and Kayla Walker, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

The Game: Tara Clem, a senior musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas, will direct this play written by Louise Bryant. This allegorical play is about two people, Youth, a male poet, and The Girl, a dancer, who are so lonely they have been driven to suicide. However, they learn why life is worth living when Life and Death play The Game for their souls. Stage manager for this production is Lauren Terry, a freshman musical theatre major from Evansville, Ind. Performing in this production are Tyler Lewis, a senior theatre arts major from Magnolia, Ark.; Caitlyn Johnson, an educational advisor in Ouachita’s TRIO Program; Joseph Hughes, a senior philosophy major from Flint, Texas; and Hannah Saunders, a freshman musical theatre major from St. Paul, Ark.

All By Myself: Kenderick Scorza, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., will direct this play written by Robert Scott. The play follows a man who has been stranded on a seemingly abandoned island for seven years. However, some of the island’s inhabitants reveal themselves, and all of them begin to construct a raft to leave the island. However, the man sends the others off, convinced he is fine by himself, only to learn there are many others on the island. Stage manager for this production is Cody Walls, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark. Performing in this production are Micah Brooks, a freshman musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas; Olivia Witcher, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Jordan Martinez, a freshman musical theatre major from Forney, Texas; Michaela Finley, a freshman musical theatre major from Cedarville, Ark.; and Hannah Fender, a sophomore musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

Friday night’s performances include:

Bang Bang You’re Dead: Angela Morgan, a senior musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark., will direct this play written by William Mastrosimone. The play takes place in a teenager’s jail cell. The day before, the teenager shot five of his classmates in their school cafeteria. While in jail, the teenager’s victims’ ghosts come back and demand to know why he killed them. Stage manager for this production is Mattie Alexander, a sophomore theatre arts major from Midwest City, Okla. Performing in this production are Walter Dodd, a senior theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Buzz Hardin, a sophomore biology and chemistry major from Marion, Ark.; Zach Myers, a freshman musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark.; Nadalie Gill, a sophomore theatre arts and mass communications major from Price, Texas; Jess Elliff, a freshman musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.; and Dallas Sleeman, a junior theatre arts major from Kentwood, Mich.

Tender Offer: Kyle Osmon, a senior musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark., will direct this play written by Wendy Wasserstein. The play focuses on a father and his late arrival to his daughter’s dance recital. When he picks her up, they discuss their lack of communication. Stage manager for this production is Will Stotts, a sophomore musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark. Performing in this production are Aaron Pinion, a senior theatre arts major from Tulsa, Okla., and Abby Root, a junior speech communication and theatre arts double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.

Armed Robbery for Dummies: Hailey Weiner, a junior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark., will direct this play written by Paul Roman. The play follows a man who needs a change in his life. The man decides robbery will provide that change, and he consults his recently paroled friend. When the man kills his neighbor in a ruined first attempt at robbery, he decides he needs some lessons in body disposal. Stage manager for this production is Hunter Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Central City, Ark. Performing in this production are Michael Pere, a sophomore musical theatre major from Roland, Ark.; Jaret Webb, a freshman biology major from Arlington, Tenn.; Scotty Scott, a freshman musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.; and Anna Darr, a sophomore musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.

Check Mate: Mattie Bogoslavsky, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., will direct this play written by Robert Scott. The play follows the relationship of a married couple and the lengths they will go to seek revenge on each other for the choices they have made. Stage manager for this production is Libby Villegas, a freshman musical theatre major from Wylie, Texas. Performing in this production are Sara Cat Williams, a senior biology major from Rowland, Ark., and Jesse Bowron, a junior theatre arts major from Grandview, Texas.

Sure Thing: Stacy Hawking, a senior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark., will direct this play written by David Ives. The play is about a chance meeting between two people in a New York café. A ringing bell continually resets their conversation when one of them responds negatively to the other. Stage manager for this production is Bret Sanders, a junior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark. Performing in this production are Esther Atkinson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark., and Jacob Hemsath, a sophomore musical theatre major from Wylie, Texas.

For more information, contact Dr. Scott Holsclaw at [email protected] or (870) 245-5561.

 

By Katie Smith