What exactly is a one act play? Well, it is exactly what it sounds like, one act of a full length play. One act plays can range from 20 minutes up to 1 and a half hours, depending on where the one act is being pulled from. Typically, a one act (when it is not part of a larger play) is about one hour.
When it comes to competition pieces like the one you will see this evening, our actors have 40 minutes to put a set up, perform their piece, and take the set down; returning everything to our 6x9 box before time is up.
As a director, I am not allowed to be backstage to assist with any of this. It is COMPLETELY student run. I have to sit in the audience and pray that everything runs smoothly.
As you can imagine, it takes a lot of focus and concentration for these students to perform in a venue that is not their own, using lighting and sound equipment that is not theirs, and being judged by industry professionals to see how good their skills are. It is beyond nervewracking!
When you see these students after the production tonight, please encourage them. Point out what you loved. There is nothing wrong constructive criticism, but please remember that positive reactions from the audience mean the world to these students under these kind of high stress situations!
We hope you enjoy the show!
