Seniors Leave Legacy Onstage

Summer MezaTHE SANTA CLARAFebruary 12, 2014 

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]tudents are in charge at this year’s Winter One-Act Festival.  Theater majors and minors will take the lead by directing, producing, managing and performing two plays this weekend. These pieces differ dramatically from normal university productions, which have more faculty guidance and direction.

“(The One-Acts are) a great opportunity for students to collaborate with each other and put on a self-made show with access to a professional level of resources,” said sophomore actor Cameron Wells. “We have the costume shop to take advantage of, we have lighting design (and) we can use it all as we choose.”

The two plays are both short pieces. The first, “The Angel Intrudes,” is a mysterious piece directed by senior Eric Wu. For Wu, the festival is the culmination of his directorial education.

“It’s a chance for seniors to show how they’ve developed the craft of directing,” said Wu. “It also provides a nice alternative for students who wanted to act, but were unable to join the mainstage show.”

The plays may also be the first chance for students to delve into their creative voices in this way.

“The One-Acts are about allowing a student to showcase not only their abilities as a director, but start to bring up their voice in both the theater world and the world in general,” said Michileen Oberst, the stage manager for the second play, “Tender Offer.” The play is directed by senior Emilie White.

This also means that these works can have a unique impact on the audience.

“They bring up questions of societal issues,” said Oberst. “They allow all of us to experience how our voices could be used in real-world theater.”

Those who come out to see the One-Act Festival may find themselves relating to the pieces in a distinct way, with the perspective and talents of their peers shining through.

Both plays focus on various types of human connection, emphasizing the complicated nature of different relationships and questioning characters’ genuine intentions.

“It’s so student-based,” said Oberst. “(The message) is coming from the perspective of students, something I think people at Santa Clara can really relate to.”

The festival opens at 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday at the Fess Parker Studio Theatre.

Besides the ideas they hope to convey with their works, the students involved also benefit from the self-growth that arises throughout the process.

“It’s like a sandbox,” said Wells. “Being within a space with a director, fellow actors, a manager — we can really play around and come together in a process of discovery.”

Contact Summer Meza at sameza@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.