One Act Theatre Festival Completes Ashland University Season
The Ashland University Department of Theatre closes its 2011-2012 “Season of Turning Points” with EXPERIENCE/EXPERIMENT: The 2012 One Act Festival, which presents four different one-act plays directed by Ashland University theatre majors studying in their junior year. Featuring two different one-act plays each evening, the performances are staged in Ashland University’s Studio Theatre for 7:30 p.m. curtains Wednesday, April 18, to Saturday, April 21.
The Wednesday and Friday one acts are comedic satires including David Ives "Words, Words, Words" directed by Emily Plank (Cinnamon Lake/Black River High School) and Richard Greenberg's "The Author's Voice" directed by Nathaniel Sayatovich (McConnelsville/Morgan High School). The one acts on Thursday and Saturday focus on darker content with Christopher Durang's "Naomi in the Living Room" directed by Michael Cook (Weston/Otsego High School), while Jensen Glick (Hilliard/Hilliard Darby High School) directs Michael Cook's original script "Broken, Unbroken."
"Words, Words, Words" directed by Plank and staged managed by Hilary Rheinheimer is a comedic satire which recalls the philosophical adage that three monkeys typing into infinity will sooner or later produce "Hamlet." The three monkeys are played by Jay Kunzi as "Swift," Bekah Frient as "Milton" and Taylor Stepp as "Kafka."
A funny and suspenseful satire about contemporary book publishing, "The Author's Voice" directed by Sayatovich and stage managed by Rheinheimer, features Austin Arnold as "Todd," a handsome, struggling author; Kelsey Bowens as "Portia," a beautiful and seductive editor; and Nick Seemann as "Gene," a gnome-like genius.
"Naomi in the Living Room" is a dark comedy which glimpses into a very dysfunctional family. Directed by Cook and stage managed by Sayatovich, the cast includes Jacob Poiner as "John," a codependent male with a flair for cross-dressing; Kelli Lennox as "Johnna," the wife who wants the acceptance of her mother-in-law; and Kim Lennox as "Naomi," John's moody mother.
Directed by Glick with Jacob Poiner as stage manager, Broken/Unbroken is an original script written by theatre major Michael Cook about making life decisions. Characters include Aaron Arnold as "Gabriel," a young writer in search of his muse; Brandon Wurgess as "Stephan," Gabriel's best friend and mentor; and Becca Ribley as "Rozaline" and "Corelle," Gabriel's first love and new love interest, respectively.
Audience members are advised that some of the one acts include adult language and situations. Tickets for each evening of one acts are $10 for adults; $9 for senior citizens, students, University faculty/staff; $8 for groups of 10 or more; and $2 for Ashland University students.
To purchase tickets, call the Ashland University Central Box Office at 419-289-5125, Monday through Friday, 12 to 6 p.m.; or purchase online 24/7 at www.ashland.edu/tickets. For more information about the department of theatre, visit www.ashland.edu/theatre, find us on Facebook or contact Tricia Applegate, coordinator of performing arts publicity and events, at 419-289-5950 or tapplega@ashland.edu.
Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category for 2012, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.
