Student playwrights to showcase their one-act plays
After weeks of preparation, students of the Brand New Theatre will present their original one-act plays this Thursday at 7 p.m. The productions will debut at the Massman Theatre and will also be performed throughout the weekend.
Photo courtesy of Brand New Theatre
Act it out · Brand New Theatre is the oldest theater group on campus. From Nov. 10 to 12, Brand New Theatre will present four one-act plays created by students. Written by Ashley Busenlener, Please Stay tells the story of a young actress who loses her family to the show business.
Despite its name, Brand New Theatre is the oldest theater group on campus. It is entirely run by students, who have the opportunity to write, direct and produce their own work.
Last month, the BNT board received a plethora of one-act play submissions for this event, but ultimately had to select their top four favorite pieces. At the event, these four selections will be performed, which range from 15 to 45 minutes in length.
The plays cover a diverse range of topics and genres, but also highlight the works of some of the most promising writers, directors and actors on campus.
Over the past month, these student creators have been hard at work, perfecting their performances and preparing for this special event. In spite of the chaos of midterms and other academic obligations, they dedicated countless hours to these short plays, hoping to demonstrate their talent and creative prowess.
Throughout the process, students had the chance to create work that was uniquely their own. Without a predominant faculty presence, the students here were able to take more of an active role in the productions.
In Please Stay, a young actress loses sight of her priorities amid the often alluring aspects of show business, abandoning her family in the process. Though this piece is only 15 minutes long, Caddick explained that it not only explores relevant themes in an effective way, but also addresses an issue that aspiring entertainers should not ignore.
“It was neat because we got to have so much autonomy in the process,” said Marisa Caddick, the director of the play.
Caddick also expressed her appreciation for the Brand New Theatre, which allowed students to create their own productions. She said the student collaboration was key to the creative process.
“Because we were working with student playwrights, the actors and directors had more of an influence in the final product,” she said. “It was rewarding to see those collaborative ideas come to life.”
Students interested in attending are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance. Five dollar donations are suggested for donations.