Theatre Students Present 2023 One Act Play Festival

The Concordia Theatre Department performed six student-directed performances on Thursday, April 20th, Friday, April 21 and Sunday, April 23rd in the Thom Auditorium for Concordia’s Annual One Act Play Festival.  

The festival is the practical component of the Communication Theatre Arts play production class. The class takes the students through the process of analyzing their play from multiple perspectives, including design, technical and acting choices, so they are prepared to work with their peers to produce a complete performance.   

This year’s plays included You Never Say the Scottish Play by Gary Peterson, directed by Elise Leapley, a junior from Waukesha, Wisconsin; Le Jeu Espion by Sonja Staunton, directed by Haley Compton, a senior from Papillion, Nebraska; Everything Else by Julian Shepherd directed by Luke Lang, a senior from Brentwood, California; The Angel Whisperer by Michelle Markarian, directed by Ella Kissinger Coble, a junior from Doniphan, Nebraska; Blizzard Conference, written and directed by Skyler Woita, a junior from Wahoo, Nebraska; and Reunited and it Feels So Good by Kendra Martin, directed by Breanna Tarras a senior from Antigo, Wisconsin.  

There was a large variety of performances this year, which Bryan Moore, director of Concordia’s theatre department, comments on. “This year’s The One-Act Play Festival had many moving parts, so with more shows, the communication between the directors and with the casts and technical shops became more important to ensure we stay on schedule and had everything prepared for the productions. It’s exciting to learn about the student directors through the type of play they want to direct, from their preferred kinds of entertainment and humor to what kinds of messages and topics are important to them.” 

Haley Compton, a first-time director, made her one act a spoof comedy about World War II. Compton stated that “Directing a One Act play is a truly unique experience, especially as a student director working with your peers. It teaches you a lot about leadership and the balance of creative control necessary to make a show work.” 

 
  One Act Cast and Crews in Order of Performance:  

You Never Say the Scottish Play by Gary Peterson 

Director: Elise Leapley  

Assistant Director: Grace Pennekamp, junior, Fort Wayne, Ind.  

Alex:  Abigail Baack, junior, Seward, Neb.   

Chloe: Leigha Meyer, senior, Fenton, Mo.  

Danny: Daniel Oberdieck, junior, Elizabeth, Ind.  

Evelyn: Jenna Potratz, junior, Seward, Neb.  

Bernard: Caleb Zeckzer, junior, Grand Haven, Ind.  

Le Jeu Espion (The Spy Game) by Sonja Staunton  

Directed by Haley Compton, senior, Papillion, Neb.  

Assistant Directed by Laura Hellwege, senior, Edmonton, Alberta 

Assistant to the Assistant Director: Julia Witt, senior, Columbus, Neb.  

Böhm: Miriam Ganoung, freshman, Halsey, Neb.  

Schwick: Aaron Fosse, freshman, Cedar Rapids, Iowa  

Etienne: Harley Storie, sophomore, Valley Park, Mo.  

Rochelle: Bailey Mooney, senior, Bee, Neb.  

Madam M: Grace Donnelly, freshman, Three Forks, Mont.  

Dickie: Brett Determan, junior, Cedar Falls, Iowa 

Henri: Anna Royuk, junior, Seward, Neb.  

Alexei: Rebekah Paul, freshman, Almena, Wis.  

Lorenzo: Adam Prince, senior, O’Fallon, Mo.  

Everything Else by Julian Shepherd 

Director: Luke Lang, senior, Brentwood, Calif.  

Assistant Director: Adam Prince  

Jane: Taryn Hamill, sophomore, Omaha, Neb.  

Phil: Myles Lyons, junior, Arlington, Texas  

The Angel Whisperer by Michelle Markarian  

Director: Ella Kissinger-Coble, junior, Doniphan, Neb.  

Rose: Leigha Meyer 

Delia: Stephanie Mashuga, junior, Gibbon, Minn.  

Blizzard Conference by Skyler Woita 

Director: Skyler Woita, senior, Seward, Neb.  

Mr. Smith: Carson Richters, sophomore, Utica, Neb.  

Burt: Matt Weismann, sophomore, Gibbon, Neb.  

Ron: Aaron Brost, freshman, Waterloo, Iowa 

Jones: MJ Coffey, freshman, Blue Hill, Neb.  

Reunited, And It Feels So Good by Kendra Martin  

Director: Breanna Tarras, senior, Antigo, Wis. 

Assistant Director: Kayla Korb, freshman, Burley, Idaho 

Andrew: Alleah Struble, senior, Cabot, Ark.  

Elizabeth: Sara Erickson, freshman, Omaha, Neb.  

Rose: Beatrice Cruz, freshman, Brisbane, Calif.  

Zack: Marc Freiberg II, senior, Seward, Neb.  

Colleen: Emilee Price, sophomore, Columbus, Neb.  

Alex: Adam Prince 

Phoebe: Bailey Mooney 

Server: Brynna Walgate, senior, St. Charles, Mo.  

Interested in joining Concordia's Theatre Department? Learn more about the department here.