The curriculum of a Harding theatre major is not an easy one. Students pursuing a degree in theatre are required to choose an one-act-show and produce it entirely on their own.
Every detail from posters, programs, auditions, casting, blocking scenes and performing the show are well thought out and executed. For senior theatre majors Dillon Holden and Amanda Lane, preparing one act shows for this fall has been a learning experience in a number of ways.
Holden chose the play, “Don’t Say Macbeth” by Burton Bumgarner for his course requirement. Holden said the show portrays a girl in a cafe attempting to read through Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” The cafe is located next to a theater, which fills the shop with actors and actresses. As the girl reads and falls asleep, the waitress of the cafe has the diners act out the show for her. The show’s antagonist rushes in and reveals that you are never to say Macbeth near a theater, for it will cause terrible things to occur. Holden said that the cast of 11 provides a comical performance and the show is filled with hidden jokes from pop culture.
“It’s really quirky — goofy at points, and it keeps the audience on their toes” Holden said.
Holden said the process of planning and producing the play has been tedious, but his efforts have been rewarding.
“I’ve already learned a lot about myself as a director and as a performer,” he said.
Holden said working with a cast of peers has been a challenge for him, but it has shown him what works within blocking a scene and displaying the best work.
“The show is going to be great and they’re all doing a fantastic job,” Holden said. “It’s all going to pay off in the end.”
Lane is juggling three productions as she prepares her one act. Recently performing in the Homecoming musical and working on a written musical for her spring senior seminar course, she is focusing her free moments on Sundays to her play, “The Snow Show.”
According to Lane, the show portrays a young girl visiting her cousin, who has never once seen snow. Through a series of vignettes, the plot leads to fulfilling the protagonist’s dream of seeing snow for the first time.
Lane said she particularly enjoys plays with children and the show overall was a simple one to produce.
“Some scenes are funny, some scenes are serious,” Lane said. “It’s really cute and fun.”
Lane’s cast consists of 12 students varying from freshmen to seniors. She said that the “huge dynamic” of ranging classifications helps the younger students to follow the standards set by upperclassmen.
Lane said this process has helped her discover that she prefers performing versus directing, but the experience has been rewarding thus far.
“I’ve really enjoyed directing something, seeing it work and having the audience respond in a really positive way,” Lane said.
“Don’t Say Macbeth” and “The Snow Show” will be showing in the Ulrey Performance Arts Center Nov. 8-10 at 7 p.m.
