Campus thespians are putting on one-act plays March 17 and 18 in the Lemmond Theater.
Performers from the MU Players and others will act scenes from both comedic and dramatic plays. This is the third year for the one-act productions.
ALP Coordinator Scott Woolnough is a directors and the only one to select a drama. His act depicts a scene from The Veldt by Ray Bradbury.
“I chose that play mainly because the other directors chose very comedic pieces and Veldt is anything but comedy,” he said. “It is very, very dark, very sinister.”
Woolnough said the topic is timely because it “reflects the general uneasiness that we have in America right now with the generation gap.”
He finds that the “2010 decade” shows young people growing up, and he said Bradbury saw this generation gap coming when he wrote The Veldt many years ago. Woolnough hopes to communicate this vision in his play.
While most plays run 45 minutes in length, he hopes to cap his production at 20 minutes.
Students are also involved in the productions. Sophomore mathematics and philosophy major Melvin Jay Busi is no stranger to the stage. Although he has not performed in a one-act play before, he has been in full productions on the Lemmond stage.
“I inspire to be a professor and so having that sort of public speaking ability is something that is very important to me and theater to practice that,” he said.
Busi is working with Student Activities Coordinator Patrick McKamy as his director and fellow students Alexandria Smith and Katie O’Hearn.
“It’s really a lot of fun. It’s not as a time demanding as the full production,” he said. “Its something I can look forward to each day.”
He finds one-acts easier for arranging a rehearsal schedule because rather than meeting with an entire cast, he is working around the schedules of two or three people.
“Because the scenes are so small, we can afford to just take a look at the entire work as a single piece and then go back and do the smaller little things over again.”
Busi said the format allows audience members to join in the action and get closer to the performers, and he said he is drawn to that closeness.
“I think it’s a lot more endearing, because there is not the sense of you know of us and them,” he said. “We’re all together and sharing the in the experience.”
Busi said he enjoys his part because he is so similar to his character, Jonathon.
“It seems so far that the characters that are given to me are close to my personality. Well with the audition process usually the director sees what the auditioning person is doing well and has a strength in doing. My character is kind of laid back, sarcastic.”
Busi encourages everyone to come out and give the one-acts a try.
“It’s quick and it’s fun,” he said. “It’s a chance for everyone to get together. I highly recommend everyone going.”
Woolnough said admission is free.
“Where else can you see theater for free?” he said. “It’s definitely something worthwhile to come see.”