For the theater students in Patti Heiman’s directing class, senior projects are not a string of all-nighters in the library that culminate in an essay.
Instead, their hard work both in the classroom and on-stage comes to fruition in two nights of plays in early May.
Heiman, instructor of theater and production manager, said each student’s one-act play is an opportunity to practically apply and show other students what they have learned.
“They work all year,” Heiman said. “First, we do the studying of what it takes to be a director and all the technical ways to work with actors and designers and then we work with … how to motivate actors, and then they work with each other, directing them so they understand how to do it once they direct their own play. And it culminates into each student doing a play each on their own.”
Junior Shelby Gitchel will direct “When God Comes to Breakfast, Don’t Burn the Toast.”
Gitchel said directing is an intensive process involving analysis, leadership and the organization of auditions, rehearsals and the actual performance.
“We’ve had to do our analysis of the play and just a lot of work reading it over and over again, and to really understand not just the big picture of the play, but the little details of it,” Gitchel said. “I’ve probably read my play 50 times, if not more than that. We’ve done a lot of work developing what we truly want for the show.”
Auditions were held Sunday and Monday to cast 17 actors for the plays. After Sunday night’s auditions, Gitchel said the audience may see some new faces on stage.
Junior Salyna Webber is one of the new actors who has been awarded a part.
“I’m not someone who’s good at talking in front of people and memorizing lines, but I thought ‘life’s too short,’” Webber said. “I just went for it and went in there and read some lines, and what do you know, I got an email with my name on it. I’m really excited.”
Sophomore Nathan Eacker, Gitchel and senior Aaron Schopper will present their plays May 3. Junior Patrick King and senior Andrew Simons’ plays will go on May 4.
Both plays will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Darby-Hope Theater.
Heiman said the range of plays presented should offer something to please most theatrical tastes.
“These students have worked very hard and it’s a variety of plays,” Heiman said. “So it’s not just for people who say, ‘oh, I like a comedy, oh I like a drama, oh, I like a farce.’ You’re going to come and see a variety of plays all in one setting.”