Got 10? Head down to the James A. Panowski Black Box Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 4 to the “10 Minute Play Festival.” The festival is hosted by students in the directing theory class taught by Ansley Valentine.
The class is offered every other year. This fall semester, there are 19 10-minute plays. The 19 plays are split between the two nights. As the play list is found on the Forest Roberts Theatre page, a full list of the student directors and cast is available as well. The cast sizes of the 10 minute play range from two to five individuals. Junior illustration major Dorsey Sprouls is the director of “Between Two Friends,” by Stephen McFeely, a play about two practical joker friends.
“I was drawn to this play because it plays with the idea of what is morally right and what is technically right,” Sprouls said. “There is a lot of interesting and funny conversation that goes on in the play as well.”
The cast members for each 10-minute play are hand picked by students in the directing theory class when castings for all the productions in the beginning of the school year are held. Junior theater major and director of “Kuwait,” by Vincent Delaney, Coop Bicknell, said his play’s cast consists of three and he is excited for the play.
“[The cast] is great, fantastic and fun to work with,” Bicknell. “There is a big sense of tension. As the play goes on, it becomes more and more serious. Overall, I’m looking forward to seeing my peers and their work. It will be awesome to see others’ and our work on stage.”
The festival is open to not only the NMU community, but surrounding communities as well. General admission is $5. Junior theater and entertainment arts major Tom Lee is directing “The Divine Fallacy,” by Tina Howe. Lee said the class is a great experience by seeing what Northern Michigan University offers to mold students into directors.
“My play is unique because it doesn’t make sense right off the bat and it can be a challenge because it is so fast-paced,” Lee said. “Overall, it’s fun seeing what it’s like to put on a performance and seeing the work on stage. I’m spending a lot of time working with people and seeing the performance on stage is great.”
The directing theory class hopes students get a chance to stop by and see the 10-minute plays.
“Come down and see a lot of really great actors do a lot of great theater,” Sprouls said.
