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Annual DePauw One Acts to celebrate female writers
The DePauw Theatre Department will present its annual celebration of student-written one-act plays later this week.
Giving new writers a voice and venue has been a priority for nearly 30 years in DePauw Theatre. This year the presentation inclues three short plays by women writers.
The featured plays this year will be “Where’s the PA?,” “A Father’s Joy” and “Online Classes.” The shows will be presented at Moore Theatre inside the Green Center for the Performing Arts and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as a Sunday matinee at 1 p.m.
There will be a talkback with the director, playwrights, actors and crew after Thursday’s production. Tickets are available at the Green Center for the Performing Arts Box Office (765- 658-4827) or online at depauw.edu/arts.
In “Where’s the PA?” by senior Megan Mannering, a production assistant on a popular reality show finds herself thrust into a starring role when the lead actress stomps off the set. As a popularity storm roars on social media, our spotlighted heroine finds herself forced to confront her true self rather than her mediated fabrication.
Mannering had not been a part of a theater production since high school, though she has been writing plays throughout her collegiate career.
“While I tried to be intentional and creative in writing this play, I never expected to see it brought to life on stage, but the actors have done just that,” Mannering said. “They’ve added their own flair and amplified the roles I’ve created, making for a really unique performance. From start to finish, this entire process has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in college, and I can’t wait to share the final product with the community.”
“A Father’s Joy,” by senior Kate Woods, finds an estranged daughter tasked with eulogizing the dead father she blames for her mother’s untimely death. The problem is the dead father wants the last word.
In “Online Classes” by senior Caroline Knight, good intentions go south when a young teacher creates a falsified online persona to “friend” a social outcast from her class.
This is director Steve Timm’s third time producing student-written one acts and his passion for the project has grown with each production.
“Producing student work is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job and I’m proud of what these young writers have accomplished,” Timm said. “I ask student writers to consider tough ethical dilemmas for the characters, and to centralize those dilemmas in the play’s climax. These writers have created compelling stories that will likely resonate with a broad audience.
“It takes a tremendous amount of artistic courage to attach one’s name to a play and then offer that work up for public scrutiny. These writers have done just that.”