Elyssia Finch entertains audiences in One-Act Play Festival at Concordia University, Nebraska

2014 Apr 7

Six short plays are part of the annual One-Act Play Festival at Concordia University, Nebraska.

Students from Concordia's Play Production class direct each show, making decisions about the cast, costumes, lighting, sound and set pieces. The directors plan and organize rehearsals, work with actors and designers both on and off stage and work with other students in the class to produce a weekend full of performances that are free and open to the public.

Elyssia Finch, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., is participating in the festival.

"Whether these students want to teach theater or work in a community or professional theater setting in the future, this academic setting gives them a chance to share and learn from each other and from their successes and mistakes," Associate Professor of Communication and Theater Bryan Moore said. "For other participants, students get more opportunities to audition and perform or to assist on the technical side."

The content of the six plays ranges from serious to satirical, whimsical to edgy, Moore said, "but they will all make you think critically in some way, which should be the case with theater."

This year's festival includes the following one-act plays and casts:

"A Silent Gale," written and directed by graduate student Rory Wendelin of Oberlin, Kan.

• Noel Richardson, a senior from Junction City, Kan., playing Erik
• Jenna Karlin, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., playing Olivia
• Ella Gray, a guest actor from Seward, Neb., playing Anna

"Please Take a Seat and Someone Will Be With You Shortly" by Garth Wingfield

• Andrew Magnus, a junior from Springfield, Mo., directing
• Tanner Bohlender, a freshman from Lincoln, Neb., playing David
• Elyssia Finch, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., playing Sue

"Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson" by Rich Orloff

• Christopher Wilson, a junior from Fremont, Calif., directing
• Mitch Walkup, a junior from York, Neb., playing the jumper
• Izaak Wendorff, a freshman from Winthrop, Minn., playing the Good Samaritan
• Mark Gaschler, a senior from Imperial, Neb., playing the teacher

"John and Maggie" by D.M. Larson

• Conner Lloyd, a junior from Parker, Colo., directing
• Crayton Noe, a sophomore from Seward, Neb., playing John
• Alyssa Lehenbauer, a junior from Lake Ozark, Mo., playing Maggie
• Lindsey Warneke, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, playing Janey

"Ghostly Trinkets" by Charron Contival

• Stephanie Shearer, a sophomore from Arapahoe, Neb., directing
• Paul Nelson, a freshman from Norfolk, Neb., playing the old man
• Taylor Baumeister, a junior from De Pere, Wis., playing the female voice
• Cameron Christiansen, a freshman from Palmer, Alaska, playing the male voice
• Caleb Haack, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., playing the young thief

"Admissions" by Colleen Neuman

• Kelsey Livingston, a senior from Seward, Neb., directing
• Allie Parkhurst, a junior from Camden, N.Y., playing Evelyn
• Zach Klatt, a junior from Shawnee Mission, Kan., playing Peter
• Allison Caudle, a freshman from Greeley, Colo., playing Aunt Sill, et al.