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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (April 19, 2011) — Milligan College students will present the 24th annual Festival of One Act Plays, April 26-28. The festival begins at 6 p.m. each evening in the McGlothlin-Street Theatre in Milligan’s Gregory Center for the Liberal Arts. All performances are free and open to the public.
Each evening of the festival features three one acts. This year’s festival includes seven plays directed by Milligan students and an alumna, an original play written and directed by a member of Milligan’s staff and a play performed entirely in German (with English subtitles) by Dr. Ted Thomas’ intermediate German class.
The festival was started in 1987 by Richard Major, professor of theater at Milligan, to energize the theater program and provide hands-on theater experience for his students.
“One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about the festival is that students who might never consider auditioning for a main-stage production enthusiastically show up in swarms for the one act auditions,” Major said. “It’s a way to not only showcase our student directors and their casts, but is also a way to thank our patrons, as the festival has always been free of charge.”
Tuesday, April 26
“DMV Tyrant” — directed by Sierra Summers, a senior from Bluff City, Tenn.; stage managed by Natasha Carpenter, sophomore from Mexico City, Mexico
This familiar tale follows James Agnes, a man who encounters a problem with his temporary license and goes to the DMV to get it resolved. At the DMV, he faces the problem of an employee whose last concern is actually being helpful.
“Watermelon Boats” — directed by Dan Ott, a senior from Wooster, Ohio; stage managed by Jackie Johnson, a sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va.
This telling story of the power of friendship, written by Wendy MacLaughlin, follows Kitty and Kate, best friends since they could talk. As they grow older and grow apart, they find that their differences are the glue that keeps them together.
“Das kleine rote Huhn” (The Little Red Hen) — directed by Dr. Ted Thomas, associate professor of humanities, history and German at Milligan; stage managed by Brendan Hawkins, a junior from Limestone, Tenn.
This barnyard tale demonstrates the importance of communication and compassion. The 12 students who developed the original script get a chance to showcase their near-intermediate German language skills.
Wednesday, April 27
“The Office” — directed by Kylie Gaulding, a senior from Warsaw, Va.; stage managed by Caitlyn Wise, a senior from Plum Tree, N.C.
This act follows Kate Hoffower’s unfortunate characters — One, Two and Three —who are about to have the most boring day imaginable in this hilarious ode to workplace monotony.
“Hello Kitty’s Got Claws” — written and directed by Deborah DeGeorge Harbin, administrative assistant for academic affairs at Milligan; stage managed by Kayla Rodgers, a senior from Vancouver, Wash.
Everyone is a suspect when a frat-guy boyfriend with a reputation as a player finds himself at the business end of a very “girly” murder weapon.
“Game Theory”— directed by Sarah Rhymer, a master of education student from Fall Branch, Tenn.; stage managed by Amber D. Shelton, a master of education student from White Pine, Tenn.
This comedic play by Peter Sagal follows two business executives — Paula, a 30-something on her last leg, and Mark, a 20-something just out of college — as they engage in an epic battle of wits.
Thursday, April 28
“The Still Alarm” — directed by Lacie Black, a junior from Jonesborough, Tenn.; stage managed by Austin Macenczak, a junior from Atlanta, Ga.
George S. Kaufmann’s hilarious English drawing-room comedy, “The Still Alarm,” centers on the reactions of two English businessmen as they learn that their hotel is on fire.
“The Man Who Couldn’t Dance” — directed by Melanie Richards, a senior from Knoxville, Tenn.; stage managed by Morgan Simmons, a junior from Ashburn, Va.
An anti-romantic comedy written by Jason Katims follows a girl and a boy as they converse with one another about life, love and their failed relationship. The audience is certainly in for a lot of witty banter and a touch of the deeper emotions within.
“Words, Words, Words” — directed by Melanie Yodkins, a 2010 Milligan alumna
When you put three chimps in a cage with typewriters and expect them to type up “Hamlet” without knowing what “Hamlet” is, you get David Ives’ pun-filled one act, filled with wit, banana tossing, monkey business, plots of revenge and Shakespearean soliloquies.
For more information about Milligan’s fine arts program, visit www.milligan.edu/arts.