Annual One-Act Play Festival offers comedy and suspense

Published by Concordia University, Nebraska 9 years ago on Fri, Mar 27, 2015 10:10 AM
Sarah Krause, playing the role of Dulcibella in “The Ugly Duckling” by A.A. Milne, rehearses for the One-Act Play Festival being held at Concordia April 16–18.

Concordia University, Nebraska students will direct and perform five one-act plays covering genres including comedy and suspense in the annual One-Act Play Festival April 16–18 at 7:30 p.m. each evening in the Studio Theatre of the Music Building on Concordia’s campus. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

“Student directors get an opportunity to lead the process of putting a show together, including learning the many steps necessary to prepare, rehearse and present a play,” said Bryan Moore, associate professor of communication and theatre. “This year's shows cover the full range of styles, from comedy and satire to serious drama and suspense. Overall, this festival of short plays presents theatre in another format that is both entertaining and educational for all involved.”

The plays include “The Beauty Inside,” a story by Catherine Filloux about a young girl in Turkey who became the target of an honor killing. Students will also perform a comedy play called “The Omelet Murder Case” by Tim Kelly that puts a contemporary twist on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Other plays include “The Chocolate Affair” by Stephanie Allison Walker, “The Ugly Duckling” by A.A. Milne and “Nothing” by Concordia student Michaela Gierke.

Performers include:

“The Beauty Inside”
Stephanie Wilde, senior, Parkers Prairie, Minn., serving as director
Emma Wendorff, freshman, Winthrop, Minn., playing the role of Yalova
Hannah Portrey, freshman, Omaha, Neb., playing the role of Peri
Brindie Howerton, senior, Kaneohe, Hawaii, playing the role of Latife

“The Omelet Murder Case”
Kirsten Awe, senior, Tilden, Neb., serving as the director
Tyler Raabe, freshman, Omaha, Neb., playing the role of Shake
Cameron Christiansen, sophomore, Palmer, Alaska, playing the role of Claude 
Christopher Wilson, senior, Fremont, Calif., playing the role of Hamlet
Emily Kollbaum, sophomore, Concordia, Mo., playing the role of Gilda
Sydney Heimann, junior, Galesburg, Ill., playing the role of Rosa
Sarah Krause, sophomore, Rockford, Ill., playing the role of Opehlia
Allison Caudle, sophomore, Greeley, Colo., playing the role of Marlowe
Lindsey LaMountain, sophomore, Gretna, Neb., playing the role Gertrude

“The Chocolate Affair”
Elyssia Finch, junior, Omaha, Neb., serving as the director
Allison Parkhurst, senior, Camden, N.Y., playing the role of Beverly
Paul Nelson, sophomore, Norfolk, Neb., playing the role of M&M
Andrew Magnus, senior, Springfield, Mo., playing the role of Mr. Goodbar

“The Ugly Duckling”
Bethany Williams, senior, Aurora, Colo., serving as the director
Sarah Scamehorn, freshman, Sterling, Neb., playing the role of Princess
Michael Duffy, freshman, Kenesaw, Neb., playing the role of Prince
Melonie Kotschwar, junior, Seward, Neb., playing the role of Queen
Clyde Ericson, sophomore, Osceola, Neb., playing the role of King
Sarah Krause, sophomore, Rockford, Ill., playing the role of Dulcibella
Ian Hendrickson, freshman, Seward, Neb., playing the role of Chancellor
Caleb Haack, junior, Omaha, Neb., playing the role of Carlo

“Nothing”
Michaela Gierke, senior, Billerica, Mass., serving as the writer and director
Allison Caudle, sophomore, Greeley, Colo., playing the role of Devyn
Lindsey LaMountain, sophomore, Gretna, Neb., playing the role of Dakota
Caleb Haack, junior, Omaha, Neb., playing the role of Kevin
Andrew Crist, junior, Springfield, Mo., playing the role of Grant
Hannah Portrey, freshman, Omaha, Neb., playing the role of Young D.