Get ready for some Broadway-quality acting coming to Broad Run High School. The school will be putting on nine student-directed, one-act plays during its Winter One-Act Festival Jan. 29, 30 and 31, at 7:30 p.m., at the school. Tickets are $3.
"It's their chance to put everything that they have ever learned under my tutelage to good use," Timothy Willmot, theater director, said. "They choose the show, cast it, schedule it, do directing and this year, direction of peers is the challenge," he said. The students have to publicize it, put together a program, greet people and bring in the masses "and watch their babies get performed." He added, "It's as close to the overall process of production that I can give to them."
THE EXPERIENCE is invaluable, said Willmot, because "in the end, when you see your work, when you see your vision, that's really valuable and educative."
Senior Danielle McLean of Ashburn Village is student-directing "God" with James Bates. "It's a comedy by Woody Allen and it's about these two Greeks - Hepatitis and Diabetes. They're trying to come up with a play and they realize they're in a play," said McLean. She decided on this play because she likes Woody Allen. What's challenging about the task, she said, is directing the other students. "I guess it's hard to direct your peers." But she likes the end product, when everything comes together. "It's definitely cool to see it all come together from beginning to end," added McLean, who wants to study aeronautics in college.
Christine Jordan of Ashburn Village is student-directing "Tell Dorrie Not to Cry" with Amanda Stacey. She said it's about two sisters on the morning of Pearl Harbor. One of them is getting married to Cliff, a Navy man who ends up dying in the attack.
"At first it's a little weird trying to give directions to your peers," said Jordan, a senior. It's an awkward situation because "some of them are your friends." But she enjoys watching the project evolve. In the past, she choreographed some of the musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," so directing wasn't that much of a surprise, she said. In the future, she hopes to study dance and education.
Becky Himler is student-directing "The Spotted Man." While she's rehearsing in a scene with Mike Pokrass, she stops in mid-dialogue to give direction and advice. She said it's about a man who is sick and a hospital administration that plays with his mind. She actually plays three different characters, one of whom is a nurse that makes him feel that he's really not sick. "For me, it's really hard to differentiate between the three characters," Himler said. "I learned that directing is really hard. You have to work with other people's schedules and you have to work through them and create something really cool." In the future, she says she'd like to become a real nurse.
Amanda Kohr wanted to direct a light-hearted comedy so she chose "Courting 101." "I thought it was relatable because it's about dating," she said. It revolves around a new couple who are developing their relationship. "It brings in the crazy ex-girlfriend, the best guy friend whose in love with the girl and the awkward silences and first kisses," she said. Because it's a comedy and she's friends with all the actors in her play, the rehearsals are relaxed. "We get to have a lot of fun being creative and play off of each other," she added. And now that she's directing, she said she's learned to look at things from a director's point of view.
Lauren Davis, a member of the cast, added, "She always has some other character to reference to use, whether it be from 'Friends' or 'Gilmore Girls.'"
Added Morgan Seckinger, another cast member, "She's not afraid to tell us what she wants."
Broad Run student Brian Croarkin actually wrote his own play, "America," about two newlyweds who find their marriage is falling apart when the wife admits she's a Republican. He calls the directing process "unpredictable." And his biggest challenge is getting his cast to rehearsals on time. "Some actors should come with leashes," he said jokingly. The most fun he said is working with his actors who he says have "chutzpa."
Added actress Mariel Sierra, "I think Brian is very articulate and definitely has a set of ideas about what he wants." Sam Smedley, another actress, said, "He has everything planned. He's very professional as a student director."
The Winter One-Acts are scheduled for Jan. 29-31, at 7:30 p.m., at the school, located at 21670 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. Call 571-252-2305.