Bowie’s stage has seen a staggering twenty-three shows this school year, and It’s about to bear witness to eleven more. One week after Spring Show’s draw to a close, eleven seniors put down their character shows, pick up a pen and paper, cut a script, and sit down to cast their very own shows.

“Senior Directing has definitely been a super awesome opportunity, I’m so glad that I get to do it. I’ve learned a lot more about myself as an actress and I think that that’s so valuable.” Senior Director Paige Bradbury said.

The Senior One Acts are one act plays directed by students. The Senior Directors have already directed Children Shows in the fall, and are challenged to direct a dramatic realism piece in the Spring.

“Children shows are big and energetic to entertain a younger audience, Senior One Acts are shows that are heavily based on reality, and it’s better for them to focus on realism, and better for our actors to focus on realistic characters,” Theater Head Betsy Cornwell said.

The seniors begin with selecting a show, and cutting it down to be under an hour long. The director’s process for selecting their shows vary, some of them knew what show they wanted to do since Freshmen Year, others only had a vague idea.

“Whenever I was picking my show, I didn’t know what I wanted, but I kept having this dream that my Senior One Act had flowers in it,” Senior Director Julianna Davis said.  “And two or three days before the deadline I picked up this script out of the library and I started liking it and about halfway through this guy started talking about flowers and I was like ‘this is it, this is my show,’ because it’s sad, but it’s hopeful.”

In the days prior to auditions, directors are required to make a list of props, have set ideas, and have a direction for their shows. Finally, got to cast their shows.

“Bazan (another theater teacher) and I play referee so that they don’t have to fight over who gets who, it’s a very democratic casting session,” Cornwell said. “They cast one at time and by the time we’re finished we cast as many people we can.”

Senior One Acts and Children Shows are unique, in that they give underclassmen more of a chance to shine. The Teacher Directed shows throughout the year are typically set for upperclassmen- who are expected to either direct or assistant direct the Senior Directed shows. Since most of the upperclassmen are busy with behind the scenes roles, the underclassmen make up a large majority of the casting pool.

“I love giving people opportunities they might not of had and this would be a really cool opportunity for them to grow and for me to grow and get them places if they’re not there yet, so I’m super duper excited- my cast is huge!” Davis said.

The Seniors also get a window into the wide range of up and coming talent in Starlight Theater Company.

“It was really cool to see how much talent is in the STC, because sometimes people often get overlooked but getting to sit through all of those auditions I just realized that we are so lucky to have an incredible amount of talent,” Bradbury said.

The Senior One Acts begin on Thursday, May 12 and run through Sunday, May 15.