Various CSU-Pueblo students will see their creative work performed live on stage April 16 and April 17 as part of the English department’s “Evening of One Act Plays.”
Last year, seven students from English professor Dorothy Heedt’s Creative Writing Drama Class got the opportunity to see their creative works come to life at the event. Those who attended were exposed to student inspired plays of comedy, imaginative science fiction and important controversial subject matters. This year, the performances continue.
In an effort to increase the ability to showcase a wider pool of creative talent, the boundaries for script submissions this year has increased to include students from across CSU-Pueblo’s campus. With submission themes ranging from cancer to blue-eyed mobsters, this year’s production promises to be as entertaining as its predecessor.
These events offer CSU-Pueblo students the opportunity to gain and showcase their theatrical experience. Currently, there isn’t a drama program offered at CSU-Pueblo’s campus for students interested in the performing arts. “An Evening of One Act Plays” also isn’t traditionally held as an annual event, so students are encouraged to participate.
For those who are interested in acting in the one act plays, auditions are scheduled to take place on the evenings of March 9 and March 10. Those who audition will be asked to read an excerpt from one of the playwright’s scripts in front of the play’s directors.
The directors will then talk amongst themselves about who they want for their plays, and actors will be contacted later that week with offers of roles. Everyone who auditions will be guaranteed at least one role, with a maximum cap of three acting parts.
Directors and screenwriters also have the ability to gender swap some of their characters, so the number of gender-specific parts doesn’t place limitations on the roles available.
Once actors are selected, the students will work with the play’s directors to establish times and dates for rehearsals. The directors and actors will have the ability to hold at least one of their rehearsals in the room of the final performances in order to get a sense of stage direction and space.
For those who want to participate outside of performing, there will be opportunities to assist as stage hands, a lighting technicians, sound technicians, as well as other general help.
Final tech rehearsals for this year’s performances will be held on Tuesday April 14and Wednesday April 15. Tech rehearsals will begin at 5 p.m. and run until all the acts have finished their performances. The “Night of One Act Plays” will be held on Thursday April 16 and Friday April 17 at 5:30 p.m. in AMC 205.
The event is free and open to both the CSU-Pueblo students and the community. One act plays run approximately ten minutes in length, consist of two to four characters, and generally take place in a single setting. This year’s event will consist of six to nine of these performances, with roughly a three-hour runtime, including an intermission.
Times and location for rehearsals will be posted below in the comments section once the details have been finalized.
