It’s that time of year again. Stage II will be presenting their One-Acts Plays in just a few short weeks.
Produced by the student organization, Stage II, the group is entirely student-run. Performances of the One-Acts will run Feb. 9-13 at 8 p.m., as well as a performance on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.. The shows will be held in the Dale Snow Theatre in the Fine Arts building.
The One-Acts are different than other ESU theatre productions because they are completely student-run. ESU graduate and former Stage II member, Rachel Mack, explains, “Literally everything, direction, acting, lighting, sounds, publicity and everything else one could possibly think of is executed by students.” She goes on to say the theatre productions showcase the tools and techniques learned in the classroom.
“It allows us to be able to use the skills we’ve learned working on department productions and in our classes, and it offers an opportunity for those who may not be ready for a department show to get their feet wet in a smaller arena,” Mack said.
This year, there will be four plays performed. Stage II members and officers took a considerable amount of time to read through the 10 or so entries before making a selection. Elements considered in making the selections include, “time length, subject, appeal to the audience, cost and challenge of the show,” according to Mack. Typically, only three plays are chosen for the show, but seeing as all the plays this year are 15 minutes or under, the board was able to select four pieces.
One of the plays will be 10,000 Cigarettes by Alex Brown. Directed by Albert P. Borges, this play, which is only about ten minutes in length, is a fast-paced piece with only four women in the cast. The plot deals with, “the complexity of smoking addiction,” reveals Mack.
The second play, Porcelain and Pink, was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of classics such as The Great Gatsby and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The play was originally featured in Fitzgerald’s book, Tales of the Jazz Age. The director of this play is John Hebble. Mack describes this play as “a witty 1920s comedy with mix ups and sibling rivalry.”
The third play is Beauty, written by Jane Martin. The play is directed by Melissa Sherry. This play is similar to the movie Freaky Friday, but it involves two best friends – one beautiful and one plain. Martin’s Keely and Du won the 1994 American Theater Critics Association New Play Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Interestingly enough, Jane Martin is merely a pen name, and the true identity of this celebrated playwright is not known for sure.
The fourth play of this year’s production, Tea Leaves, is unique in that director Angelo Revilla III also wrote it. This student-written piece is described as mysterious, involving a man who meets an unusual woman at a bus stop.
The four plays presented this year are certainly an eclectic mix of genres. Mack believes the One Acts have something to offer everyone.
“I think the vast difference of mood and genre in these one acts are what makes them all extremely appealing to any audience member,” Mack said.
“I’m in love with the wit of Fitzgerald, the non-judgmental presentation of a cigarette addiction in 10,000 Cigarettes, the excitement of a new author’s play Tea Leaves, and the experience of discovering what real beauty means in Beauty,” she added.
The show is expected to run an hour and a half including a 15 minute intermission. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens, faculty and staff and $5 for students and children. If you have questions on tickets or reservations, or for more information, call 570.422.3483.
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