2008 Woodie Awards
Students direct one acts
Joy Bacon, Editor in Chief
Issue date: 12/5/06
Last Updated: 12/29/07
When junior Karla Rose sat down to choose a play to direct for the annual Festival of One Acts, she was attracted to a script that presented emotional issues facing two characters the morning after sex.
However, this seemingly controversial topic wasn't the reason for Rose's decision to direct the play.
"I was first attracted to the emotional connection and that's what's emphasized, the sex is just implied," Rose said. "It's applicable to everyone because at times we've all been too afraid to reach out when we need to."
The play, entitled "Double Take," features seniors Laura Richardson and Noree Johnson, junior Josh Sawtell and freshman John Kuhn. It was written by K.M. Chopin.
Although some of the acts focus on heavy topics or include profanity, professor of theatre Rick Hornor said the students used their own judgment as to why the play deserved production.
"Our mission is to challenge our students to think about Christian theater," Hornor said. "We try to talk about how our worldviews influence the role of the artist and what that artist should do."
Students in Hornor's directing class put together the 20-minute productions from start to finish. They were responsible for choosing a script, casting the show and pulling together costumes, lighting and sets.
"[The students] get one 20-minute shot at fame," Hornor said. "They put together a production they can be proud of."
Over 60 students showed up for the cattle- call auditions, many of whom were not theatre majors. As is true with many theater projects, the female auditioners greatly outnumbered the male students.
"I was expecting the casting process to be easier," Rose said. "It was a lot more nerve-wracking than I thought it would be."
Most of the productions are contemporary pieces. However, some students chose to adapt more classical works or use a specific act from a longer production.
Rose, in addition to directing her own production, wrote one of the plays being performed this year. The play, entitled "Something to Find," deals with two characters who meet at a bus stop.
"It's about the connections people try to make, and how they discover what brings people together," Rose said.
Senior Elizabeth Eads chose to direct Rose's work after Rose made an announcement in the class offering the script to the other students. Rose said she was not allowed to direct her own work because the directing project focused on interpreting a play without knowing the author's intentions.
Rose has been happy with Eads' direction of the work.
"Lizzy found a lot of stuff I hadn't intentionally put in the script," Rose said. "It's been great to see the actors on stage, before the characters were just something inside my head."
Hornor encouraged students to attend the week-long festival.
"The experience of theater is such a communal experience, and so intimate, especially [in Stage II]," Hornor said. "It's a great way to support your peers and see the product of weeks and hours and hours of work."
However, this seemingly controversial topic wasn't the reason for Rose's decision to direct the play.
"I was first attracted to the emotional connection and that's what's emphasized, the sex is just implied," Rose said. "It's applicable to everyone because at times we've all been too afraid to reach out when we need to."
The play, entitled "Double Take," features seniors Laura Richardson and Noree Johnson, junior Josh Sawtell and freshman John Kuhn. It was written by K.M. Chopin.
Although some of the acts focus on heavy topics or include profanity, professor of theatre Rick Hornor said the students used their own judgment as to why the play deserved production.
"Our mission is to challenge our students to think about Christian theater," Hornor said. "We try to talk about how our worldviews influence the role of the artist and what that artist should do."
Students in Hornor's directing class put together the 20-minute productions from start to finish. They were responsible for choosing a script, casting the show and pulling together costumes, lighting and sets.
"[The students] get one 20-minute shot at fame," Hornor said. "They put together a production they can be proud of."
Over 60 students showed up for the cattle- call auditions, many of whom were not theatre majors. As is true with many theater projects, the female auditioners greatly outnumbered the male students.
"I was expecting the casting process to be easier," Rose said. "It was a lot more nerve-wracking than I thought it would be."
Most of the productions are contemporary pieces. However, some students chose to adapt more classical works or use a specific act from a longer production.
Rose, in addition to directing her own production, wrote one of the plays being performed this year. The play, entitled "Something to Find," deals with two characters who meet at a bus stop.
"It's about the connections people try to make, and how they discover what brings people together," Rose said.
Senior Elizabeth Eads chose to direct Rose's work after Rose made an announcement in the class offering the script to the other students. Rose said she was not allowed to direct her own work because the directing project focused on interpreting a play without knowing the author's intentions.
Rose has been happy with Eads' direction of the work.
"Lizzy found a lot of stuff I hadn't intentionally put in the script," Rose said. "It's been great to see the actors on stage, before the characters were just something inside my head."
Hornor encouraged students to attend the week-long festival.
"The experience of theater is such a communal experience, and so intimate, especially [in Stage II]," Hornor said. "It's a great way to support your peers and see the product of weeks and hours and hours of work."
For this reason, The Whitworthian asks readers to be responsible and respectful in any comments posted. The responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not the whitworthian.com. Readers are also encouraged to report questionable comments by e-mailing editor@whitworthian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story