Sandburg’s annual Winter One Acts recently finished a successful run, with shows that were open to the public on January 31 and February 2 and the school production on February 3.
The One Acts are exactly what they sound like: plays with a single act—as opposed to the two to four that usually make up most plays and musicals—performed on the Sandburg stage by our very own Sandburg actors.
But here’s the catch: each play is written by students themselves! No matter the grade level, all have the chance to take on the role of directors and develop an original story, from brainstorming to script to stage.
This year, there were seven shows written by students: The Gameshow of a Lifetime directed by Emilia Stepansky; Brunch, Banter, & Betrayal directed by Brooke Novosel, Ella Miller, and Olivia Wasilewski; The Bachelor directed by Elena and Sophia Dorantes; Wedding Crashers directed by Lily Defrates and Tamara Alnasrawi; I Do, I Did, I’m Done directed by Kate Kanagy; Octaves directed by CJ Kelly and Mollie Harlin; and Scout of Control directed by Gaby Gomez.
These plays were accompanied by shorter acts, including a rendition of the song “California” by Noelle Gordon, a dance number performed by Cayla Evans and Gaby Gomez, Emilia Stepansky singing “Voi Che Sapete,” and contortionism done by Maggie Moran.
As audience members, we are granted the luxury of sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the show. But while we get to admire the final product, it is only because of the hard work that happens behind the scenes.
The process starts with the ideas of seniors like Tamara Alnasrawi, a fourth-year member of One Acts who directed her very own act this year. Wedding Crashers, according to Alnasrawi, centers around “a wedding gone wrong.” Indeed, the storyline follows a frazzled bride who must deal with an envious friend, a post-LASIK makeup artist, a fiancée who rips his pants before walking down the aisle—and more—on her special day.
After all these years of participating in One Acts, Alnasrawi said that one of her favorite things about it is how “you…get to hang out with a whole bunch of people,” adding, “that’s how freshman year I made a whole bunch of friends.” On the theatrical side of things, she also appreciates all of the “different artistic…values” the one acts offer, citing both the dramatic and comedic qualities of the plays.
Now, we all watched these storylines come to life onstage. But when speaking of any successful show, we cannot forget about what happens offstage. Enter tech crew. This is a group of students who, during rehearsals and performances, take charge of everything ranging from lighting to the sound system, from setting props on stage to pulling the big red curtains open (this is done by tugging on thick, heavy ropes in the wings of the stage—not by magic). One of these crew members is senior Isabella Hudson, who has participated in crew for One Acts since her freshman year. Hudson had been in crew middle school and knew she wanted to take part in it in high school as well, though she also joined to be with friends.
During rehearsals, crew works hard to make the in-progress show stage-ready. In fact, Hudson said the rehearsals and performances look very similar. “During both we move props, work with the lighting, and work audio,” she explained. “The only difference is that during rehearsals there is a lot of stop and go, through crew and the cast members, to make sure that everything is perfected for show nights.”
Though the One Acts you watch onstage are student-led, the club is overseen and guided by Mr. McDonough, who has been the sponsor for nine years. “I really enjoy guiding students through this process,” he said, “and helping them realize their creative visions as they carry out all the aspects of a theater production: writing, directing, acting, costumes, props, sets, lighting, sound, scene changes, etc.”
McDonough is not the only one who remembers happy moments. “My favorite memory is all of the friends that I have made along the way,” Hudson recalled, “and being able to be a part of student-led mini-plays.”
Whether a crew member, actor, student director, or sponsor, all have derived important lessons from One Acts. For Hudson, this meant learning “how to work with all the tech in the theater world, like lights and sound,” and even applying this knowledge to working on the spring musical.
Alnasrawi’s biggest takeaway has been, “Use your time wisely.” She elaborated, “One Acts goes by fast, so we only have…two weeks to prepare, so using the time, memorizing lines, and then directing it…you have to get props and everything ready quickly.”
As an educator, McDonough has observed the teachable nature of One Acts. He called it a “special program,” as it “gives students both an outlet for their creativity and a chance to practice and strengthen their leadership skills, as it provides them with the unique opportunity to write and direct their own short plays.”
This year’s shows might have come to a close, but the One Acts tradition continues just as it has for years. This is doubtless due to the club’s fulfilling nature that draws the talent of Sandburg in every year—and always yields success. “The students work very hard to make this happen, and I am always very proud of what they’re able to create together,” McDonough said.
As seen from the students’ shows, their hard work has once again paid off; cheers and applause rang through the Performing Arts Center as parents, friends, and peers enjoyed the students’ visions come to life.