Festival of One Acts scheduled at St. Andrews

Laurinburg, N.C. - Fans of the theatre are in for a treat this weekend as the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts presents a Festival of One Acts.

"We are presenting seven one acts and one full length play beginning on Thursday," said Mark Mannette, assistant professor of theatre. "Plays will be performed at three locations, Morris Morgan Theatre, Avinger Auditorium and Farrago."

A student, who has been involved in each piece of the process, beginning with the selection of the play, is directing each of these productions.

Jaquese Smith selected The Dreamy Kid, written by Eugene O'Neill, a piece that centers around a black man on the run from the law. He has to choose between escaping the town and staying with his grandmother, who is sick. He is in fear of being cursed if he doesn't visit her.

"Since this is my first time ever doing something like this, I wanted something challenging, but, then again, easy enough for me to understand and put my ideas to use," Smith said. "I went in Mark's office to select a play that I found interesting."

India Hill selected The American Century: A Joke in One Act by Murphy Guyer.

"I just picked the play off of Mark's shelf because it was getting close to time for us to pick our plays for the festival," Hill said. "It had three characters, which I liked. The title said it was a joke in one act, which I wanted to do. I flipped through and looked at some of the lines like, 'I want to see my conception.' It's a hysterical story about a family."

The standard description of the play shares that Tom has just returned from fighting in World War II and finds his wife in the kitchen, who has waited patiently for him for four years. Suddenly a stranger appears in the kitchen and claims to be their son from the future. He says he needs to warn his mother and father about all of the mistakes they are going to make.

In addition to selecting the plays, Smith, Hill and the other directors also had to cast the plays, a challenge in and of itself.

"We held auditions that were open to everyone," Hill said. "Only one of my cast members, Brian Shanks, came from that audition. I went to Patrick Hogan because he has experience and I needed a goofy humorist and that is something I know he can do. I cast Joanna Hipp because she's got so much energy and she could pull off the corny mother type."

Smith said, "My cast selection was very difficult because I know every student on campus is busy with many tests and all of my actors are athletes so it made it more difficult but I had a few friends and know their personalities so it was pretty easy to fit the characters."

With casts in place, all of the student directors faced the challenge of rehearsals. 

"The most challenging that I would have to say is scheduling rehearsals around everyone's schedule," Smith said.

Hill agrees, "Getting everyone to memorize his or her lines. And getting four people in the same room at the same time has been a challenge. We had several rehearsals with just two or three people."

Everything has fallen into place for the productions to take place over the weekend. As the curtain gets ready to rise, the directors admit it is a tough time.

"I have faith in my cast and think we'll have a great show but I'm scared of the hectic craziness," Hill said. "I'm nervous for them because I get nervous before I perform and I know they are going to."

About St. Andrews Presbyterian College

An innovative and bold academic venture to an interdisciplinary curriculum, a highly acclaimed college press, an award-winning pipe band, national champion equestrian teams, and first-rate scholarship have marked the distinctive character of St. Andrews. In addition to classes on the main campus, adult learners also choose the Center for Adult and Professional Studies opportunities through St. Andrews @ Sandhills and St. Andrews ONLINE.

On Aug. 29, 1958, the merger between Presbyterian Junior College and Flora Macdonald College became official with the formation St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C. Further information may be obtained by visiting the College's website www.sapc.edu, calling 800-763-0198 or sending an e-mail to info@sapc.edu.