There’s been a rumor that a mix of comedy, romance, and drama have made their way to the Starlight stage. Senior One Acts (SOA) marks the end of the Starlight Theatre Company’s (STC) season, with ten one act plays premiering after less than five weeks of rehearsal.
This show block is directed by the company’s senior students, who were required to assistant direct their junior year, apply to become a teaching assistant for the Theatre 2 course, and pick their own scripts making sure they are meeting all of the requirements set by teachers Marco Bazan and Matthew Humphrey.
“When making these decisions, the amount of preparation that has gone into the process is evaluated closely,” Humphrey said. “As an educational theatre company, we pride ourselves on the focus on process over product. While we want our shows to be fantastic, impressive, and impactful, the amount of learning that happens in rehearsal and through performance is the reason we do what we do.”
Many seniors have been hoping to be a senior director since their freshman year, choosing scripts as early as sophomore year and preparing how they want to design the entirety of their shows.
“I was recommended, my show ‘Rumors,’ by Mr. Humphrey this semester, during which I was originally looking for a more dramatic one act,” senior director Adelaide Mosel said. “I realized that I would rather challenge myself by directing a comedy I loved the liveliness and fun the script had to offer.”
A senior director is in charge of every aspect of their show. Organizing the movement on stage, the set, costumes, and props, and coordinating with their technicians for the lighting designs and sounds.
“I had so much fun exploring the performance from the perspective of a director,” senior director Genevieve Thiel said. “My wonderful assistant director, Willow Lampert, helped with all the technical aspects which allowed me to act out my artistic vision, but the most difficult part was managing the technical side. Technology itself can be unpredictable, and props and set can be difficult to move and keep track of.”
Before the rehearsal process can really begin, every student who wants to be involved must go through the audition process. After choosing a monologue each student is required to perform in front of the senior directors so they can decide who they want to callback and cast.
“It’s strange to be the one watching auditions,” Thiel said. “Watching people’s auditions and being in charge of casting myself definitely made me appreciate how difficult it is to have to pass by so many talented people. But it was really fun to get to watch both kids I’ve been working with for a long time, and people that were completely new.”
Once casting is complete, the rehearsals began.. Every cast has a slightly different process and schedule, but a staple in SOA’s includes a cast snack and a daily question at the beginning of each rehearsal.
“In our rehearsal process we first block the whole show and then we start doing scene work,” sophomore Preston Withrow said. “My director worked very hard to create the best show, while still having lots of fun.”
Senior directed show blocks are very laid back and involve lots of laughter and fun leading up to tech rehearsals and show week
“The rehearsal process was very relaxed, but still productive and fun,” freshman Lincoln Womack said. “I found SOA directors went into more depth with your character and Genevieve really helped us understand our characters.”
The STC has honored the tradition of SOA’s for a very long time and the tradition has continued to teach many seniors important lessons in leadership before leaving high school.
“The seniors who earn the opportunity to direct their own shows have a unique chance to leave their own mark on our program,” Humphrey said. “I think the lessons learned from directing are unique to each director. Some may find more difficulties than others, while others may find their artistic voice through directing. Each show is a new path.”
This year’s shows will be premiering the first weekend of May and after rehearsing onstage for the last four years, the seniors get the unique experience of watching their own work come to life onstage.
“Watching my cast perform on stage for the first time was such a dream come true,” Mosel said. “My cast did a wonderful job, and it was such a cool thing to get to see my ideas come alive on stage.”
