Not only are Warsaw Community High School students performing in one-act plays Oct. 16, they also are directing them.
The eight, 15-minute one-act plays will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the WCHS Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $5 and general admission. All proceeds benefit the WCHS drama department.
"This year," said Dana McAfee, WCHS theater teacher, "we have eight short, 15-minute plays directed by our juniors and seniors. They're all independent of each other, all different kids in them. There is no overlap."
About 50 students are involved in the one-act plays. Each play has two upperclassmen directing them. Cast sizes vary.
To be a director, McAfee said, students had to be a junior or senior. They also must have been actively involved in the theater department since they were freshmen and be members of the International Thespian Society at the high school.The first one-act play to take the stage will be "Dinner with the MacGuffins," written by Chris Sheppard and Jeff Grove. McAfee said the play is about a guy who comes home one day and discovers an audience is watching his every move. He thinks he's crazy, and his family can't see the audience.
Directed by students Kayla Smith and Malachi Vanier, the cast includes: Maxx Sell as James; Macy Hammer, Karen; Kara Warren, Helen; Victoria Wilson, Grandpa; Todd Eastis, Dwight; Joel Helms, Agent Wesson; and Cara Eastis as Agent Smith.
"If Girls Asked Boys for Dates," written by Anne Coulter Martens, is about exactly what it sounds like, McAfee said. The girls take the role of asking guys out, and the guys are nervous. It's an older one-act play.
Directed by Emily Readle and Cecilia Southworth, the cast includes: Cameron Carter as George; Amanda Miller, Mrs. Smith; Jamison Westerbeck, Harry; Heather Shelpman, Kay; and Melanie Wilson as Nancy.
All the crazy people you'd meet in a subway station will be found in "110th Street Station," written by Burton Bumgarner. There are the stereotypes, but there also are characters who break those stereotypes, according to McAfee.
Directed by Laura Eberhardt and Ally Ferber, the cast includes: Kaitie Christenberry as Estelle; Miles Wynn, Grover; Shanda Fredericks, Julia; Luke Secaur, Calvin; Jessica Armacost, Marta; Alex Floyd, Nun; Susanna Stichter, Jill; Malorie Moore, Jan; and Guillermo Uribe as Punk.
"Y'All" is about a family scheduled to be on a Southern cooking show. The only problem is, one of the girls lost her Southern accent and needs to get it back. The one-act play was written by Elizabeth Scales Rheinfrank.
Directed by Molly Lewis and Susan Grothouse, the cast includes: Montana Plummer as Carrie; Kelly Loney, Dot Lolly; Elizabeth Davis, Wanda; Courtney Haskins, Shannon; and James Lanham as Webb.
After the fourth one-act play, there will be a 15-minute ntermission. During the intermission, the One Act Café will have a bake sale to raise money for the theater booster club.
When intermission is over, the most well-known one-act play of the night will begin.
"The Actor's Nightmare," according to McAfee, is the common idea of an actor being in a play, but the actor doesn't know what play he is in. Or his lines. The play is written by Christopher Durang.
Directed by Shawn Bianchini and Lawney Francis, the cast includes: Terry Kreft as George Spelvin; Alex Deeter, Sarah Siddons; Antonio Mantey, Henry Irving; Leah Hawkins, Dame Ellen Terry; and Julie Hartman as Meg.
What is art? What makes one person like another piece of art that someone else might not? In "Man Woman Flower," written by Dan LaRocque, a painting in an art museum is viewed by an assortment of characters.
Directed by Shay Dixon and Kristen Schwenger, the cast includes: Ryan Herman as Young Man; Thomas Wack, Wil/Del; Chris Priest, Buzz/Reggie; Kyle Smith, Ben/Jessie; Marc Eshleman, Jason/Fritz; Liz Watson, Shanna/Rhoda; Kayley Herbruck, Nancy/Heidi; Frankie Hall, Charlene/Christine; Kristin Allen, Bonnie/Val; and Zach Elder as Extra.
In "Welcome to the Family," written by Alicia Hoisington, a girl introduces her fiancé to her family. Unfortunately, her father isn't too sure he likes him.
Directed by Trey Kempton and Ashley Skaggs, the cast includes: Josh Savage as Harold; Haley Owen, Louise; Andy Johnson, Jack; Natalie Bryan, Ashley; Michelle Harrell, Jenna; and Gordon Blair as Pat.
Concluding the night will be the one-act play with the smallest cast, but the longest title.
"Men Who Worry Too Much and Hug Too Little," written by Janice Fronczak, is about two guys who go to a support group because they worry too much and don't have enough emotions, according to McAfee.
Directed by Corey Boschet and Max Heckert, the cast includes: Harrison Green as Joe, Zach Anderson as Ted and Mackin Bannon as Bill.
