Concordia students lead 2018 annual One-Act Play Festival
Students of Concordia University, Nebraska, will be performing six one-act plays during the annual One-Act Play Festival, running April 5-7. The festival begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre in the Music Center on campus.
This year’s directors chose four comedies and two dramas, including a children’s language comedy, a seriocomedy, and a courtroom drama written and directed solely by students.
Bryan Moore, associate professor of communication and theatre, said, “The shows have proven to be a fun challenge for the directors and actors, and the audience will benefit from the variety of topics and comedic and dramatic styles presented.”
The festival is a component of Concordia’s play production course in which the students direct short plays. They each select a play, conduct auditions and rehearse with the cast, culminating in a weekend of their plays.
“The one-acts can be a good time to challenge ourselves in ways that we don’t normally,” said student director Melonie Kotschwar. “We can take on a leadership role that will ultimately culminate in a finished project that everyone will get the chance to see. Leading a group of people to try and get a great final play is really a chance to push ourselves beyond our comfort zones and take on new roles that actually help us grow to become better leaders in our community.”
This year’s performances include “The Last Leaf” based on the O.Henry short story and adapted by Thomas Hischak. This show presents a pneumonia-stricken patient and the motivation she receives from her friends. Students will also perform “Afternoon At Tavern MacTavish” or “My Wallet is in the Highlands” by Frances A. Hogg, in which a family of American tourists look for an authentic Scottish experience but might get more or less what they bargained for. Also being presented is “The Trial of Billy Scott” by Mazie Hall, which is a children’s language comedy depicting the trial of good language. The ending of the play is determined by the audience who acts as the jury, and therefore changes in every performance. The short seriocomedy, “Anti-Depressants” by Jeff Weisman, is included in the performances, along with the lighthearted comedy, “The Plot to Assassinate The Chase Manhattan Bank” by Carl Larsen. Finally, “Ablaze” by Concordia student Ben Leeper finishes out the program. This play explores many different sides of morality and mystery in a courtroom drama.
“I think the One-Act Festival is a great way for people to get a taste of theater,” said student director Jayme Lowe. “The smaller casts and lesser time commitment allow for people who normally don’t have time to be involved and get a chance to be onstage. It’s all student-led and it allows for so many good experiences.”
Performers include (in order by play and then student’s state, city, and last name):
“The Last Leaf”
Jayme Lowe, junior, Atchison, Kan., director
Breann Huber, sophomore, Arvada, Colo, assistant director
Emily Jensen, senior, Sioux City, Iowa, playing Johnsy
Mary Kohnke, freshman, Concordia, Mo., playing Sue
Joshua Brumm, junior, Seward, Neb., playing the Doctor
Caleb Staehr, junior, Grand Island, Neb., playing Behrman
“Afternoon At Tavern MacTavish”
Melonie Kotschwar, senior, Minden, Neb., director
Chris Genszler, senior, Oregon, Ohio, assistant director
Anne Jesgarz, junior, Shelbyville, Ill., playing Fiona
Emily Jensen, senior, Sioux City, Iowa, playing Janet
Rachel Krome, sophomore, Fairmont, Minn., playing Dani
Nathan Klaumann, junior, Fairbury, Neb., playing Herb
Dylan White, senior, Lexington, Neb., playing Sandy
Chris Genszler, senior, Oregon, Ohio, playing the Customer
Amos Utecht, freshman, Rosebud, S.D., playing Angus
“The Trial of Billy Scott”
Rebecca Blank, senior, Madison, Neb., director
Britnee Fear, junior, Hershey, Neb., assistant director
Monica Lennington, junior, Atchison, Kan., playing the Judge
Olivia Hunt, sophomore, Big Lake, Minn., playing the Bailiff and Foreman
Rachel Krome, sophomore, Fairmont, Minn., playing the Prosecuting Attorney
Mary Kohnke, freshman, Concordia, Mo., playing Mrs. Noun
Dane Pedersen, junior, Columbus, Neb., playing Adam Adverb
Zachary Staehr, freshman, Grand Island, Neb., playing the Defense Attorney
Emma Heidorn, junior, Utica, Neb., playing Mrs. Good English and Conjunction
Peter Deberny, junior, Lockport, N.Y., playing Vernon J. Verb
Amos Utecht, freshman, Rosebud, S.D., playing Billy Scott
Melinda Buhler, freshman, Fort Worth, Texas, playing Preposition and Addie Adjective
Victoria Cameron, sophomore, Kent, Wash., playing Interjection
“Anti-Depressants”
Abigail Wisniewski, junior, Withee, Wis., director
Sammi Pietanza, sophomore, San Diego, Calif, assistant director
Joshua Brumm, junior, Seward, Neb., playing James
Cadence Klemp, senior, Seward, Neb., playing Monica
Michelle Porath, freshman, Lexington, Neb., playing the Secretary
“The Plot to Assassinate the Chase Manhattan Bank”
Dylan Olmsted, senior, York, Neb., director
Hayden Rensner, freshman, Effingham, Ill., playing Wilber Fuddle
Delaney Doremus, sophomore, Grimes, Iowa, playing Miss Smith
Kailey Bales, sophomore, Elkhart, Kan., playing Miss Jones
Chelsea Irwin, junior, Lincoln, Neb., playing Mr. Dickenson
“Ablaze”
Benjamin Leeper, senior, Thornton, Colo., writer
Ian Hendrickson, senior, Seward, Neb., director
Dylan White, senior, Lexington, Neb., assistant director
Peter Jensen, junior, Newport Beach, Calif., playing Jonathan Goodwin Sr.
Delaney Doremus, sophomore, Grimes, Iowa, playing Jenna Samson
Kailey Bales, sophomore, Elkhart, Kan., playing the Waitress
Julia O’Laughlin, sophomore, Winona, Minn., playing Eve Whittaker
Dane Pederson, junior, Columbus, Neb., playing Thomas Reus
Seth Hart, sophomore, Fairbury, Neb., playing Paul Rivera
Lukas Sollberger, freshman, Louisville, Neb., playing Jonathan Goodwin Jr.
