Theatre scholarship students promise a night of comedy, suspense and intrigue at the Allen Community College Theatre, March 2- 4,7:30 p.m, during a night of student-directed one-act plays.
“It will be a really good night to laugh and have fun,” Emilee Pierce, Tonganoxie, said.
Taylor McAcoy, Hartford, is directing “Jolly Jack Junior,” written by Jeff Goode. The pirate story unfolds as a 15- year-old boy diligently searches for the mother, who tossed him out at sea, only to be disappointed with their reunion.
“I have always been interested in pirates and I thought it would be a fun one-act to do because it is like a comedy and drama mix,” McAcoy said. “It begins one way and it ends in a completely different scenario.”
This is the first time she has directed and she said the biggest challenge has been getting the actors to rehearsals on time. She is also acting in “The Chronicles of Detective Stumpt,” written and directed by classmate, Ashley Holloran, Garnett.
“I have always loved writing and I think in today’s society we should write more things instead of staying focused on movies,” Holloran said.
Holloran gets attached to her characters. The challenge to writing a good play, she said, is making sure that she does not leave them hanging. Hollarn said it has been tough as a director to make sure everyone has everything done on time but she finds it rewarding to see her words come to life and to hear the actors “nailing all the jokes.”
Those jokes take place during a scene in which an occupant of a mansion is murdered and a detective must figure out which family member committed the dirty deed.
ANGEL ACTON opted to direct a five-actor play that she said no student at the college has previously directed. “Duet for Bear and Dog,” written by Sybil Rosen, breaks the barriers between the animal and human world.
“The animals talk and the humans talk but the humans don’t know the animals talk,” Acton said. “It’s kind of strange and it connected to the humor in me.”
Acton believes all of the plays reflect a modern student perspective.
“Students are doing it and it gives people a chance to see our point of view and what we like in life,” she said.
The process of choosing which play to direct was one that Pierce took her time with.
“I am really passionate about theatre,” she said. “I wanted it to be something that people could come and no matter what they are going through in life they could just watch it and have a good laugh.”
“The DMV One,” written by Nick Zagone fits that bill in her eyes.
Tickets for the performance are $6 for adults and $4 for students and are available at the Iola Pharmacy. Allen students will be admitted free of charge.
