Months of hard work and preparation culminate for theater students next Wednesday, Dec. 8, as the annual One Act productions set the stage of the Allen Theatre in the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center.
The 14 short plays, directed and performed by Northwestern students, as well as NW professors, are the directing class’s culminating final that began in October. Directing students chose their own pieces, held auditions and will now present the many hours spent in willful preparation and rehearsal.
With themes stimulating a wide range of emotions, audience members should expect to preview the “funny, serious, dramatic, tear-jerking and historical” facets of theater, sophomore Rachel Van Gorp said.
While the Acts exhibit the directors’ semester-long projects, they are also an opportunity for all students and staff to be involved with the theatre department.
“I loved doing theatre in high school, but since I am an elementary education major, I don’t have a lot of time to be involved in NW’s theatre department,” Van Gorp said. “Being in the One Acts allows me to still act on stage, but the commitment is more manageable.”
Van Gorp is acting in “Amicable Parting,” a drama directed by junior Greta Hays. The play follows the relational struggle of a young couple, Bill, staged by junior Aaron Bauer, and Alicia, played by Van Gorp, as they work through the many layers of divorce.
“The process of creating this one-act has been a lot of fun and very enjoyable for me,”
Van Gorp said. “It has been great to work with Greta and Aaron developing our characters and the blocking of the show.”
Be sure to see “Amicable Parting” on Wednesday at approximately 7:39 p.m., along with other performances.