Stetson’s Second Stage Presents ‘Student Directed One Acts’

Man sits at desk with an axe stuck in his head.

Stetson University presents the final production of the 2017-18 season, the Student Directed One Act Play Festival on Thursday through Saturday, April 19-21, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in Stetson Theatre Arts’ “Second Stage,” located inside the Museum of Art, adjacent to the DeLand campus.

Two women are talking as one holds a piece of clothing and the other a drink.
In Poof!, Loureen’s husband, Samuel, spontaneously combusts and leaves her wondering what to do. Her best friend, and next door neighbor, Florence comes over to help her figure it out. The two women discuss the situation over a few drinks, and a pile of ash.

A collection of short plays directed by Stetson Theatre Arts students, the Student Directed One Acts features five short plays, listed below with the names of the student directors:

  • Poof! by Lynn Nottage, directed by Cori LaPinsky;
  • Up & At ‘Em by Nathaniel Maciag, directed by Jane Peterson;
  • Three Guys and a Brenda by Adam Bock, directed by Jaycie Cohen;
  • Daniel on a Thursday by Garth Wingfield, directed by Dakota Stitsinger;
  • and Variations on the Death of Trotsky by David Ives, directed by Cooper Hendrix.

In Poof!, Loureen’s husband, Samuel, spontaneously combusts and leaves her wondering what to do. Her best friend, and next door neighbor, Florence comes over to help her figure it out. The two women discuss the situation over a few drinks, and a pile of ash.

The cast for Poof! Includes: Lynxh Cruz Laureano as Loureen and Brontë Joseph as Florence.

Two men hover over a man lying on the floor, trying to get him to wake up.
In Up & At ‘Em, Ethan is about to wake up and start his day, but before he does, it is up to Creativity, Depression and Self-Esteem to determine how his day will go. While the three battle it out, they are faced with Suicide.

In Up & At ‘Em, Ethan is about to wake up and start his day, but before he does, it is up to Creativity, Depression, and Self-Esteem to determine how his day will go. While the three battle it out, they are faced with Suicide, which makes the three unusually team up to save Ethan before it’s too late.

The cast for Up & At ‘Em includes: Cooper Hendrix as Ethan, David Calhoun as Creativity,  Lauren Spratt as Self-Esteem, and Kiara Santiago as Depression.

Three Guys and a Brenda is a comedy on male stereotypes and getting the girl, enacted by an all-woman cast. Will Randall’s social pressure and stupidity get the best of him? Only one way to find out.

The cast for Three Guys and a Brenda includes: Annie Wojcik as Brenda,  Kiara Santiago as Randall, Lily Desenberg as Bob, and Diamante McKay as Joe.

Daniel On A Thursday is a cat-and-mouse comedy that follows the story of two men meeting for the first time, and explores themes of truth, spontaneity, sexuality, and first impressions.

Man sits at desk with an axe stuck in his head.
Variations on the Death of Trotsky is a play in which a confused man with a pick-axe in his head tries to come to terms with his own death.

The cast for Daniel on a Thursday includes: Daniel Mejía as Kevin and Ben Baldwin as Daniel.

Variations on the Death of Trotsky is a play in which a confused man with a pick-axe in his head tries to come to terms with his own death. Written by post modern playwright David Ives, it is an existential comedy inspired by the actual date and manner of the death of Russian Revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

The cast for Variations on the Death of Trotsky includes: Steven Kalicharan as Leon Trotsky, Morgan Egan as Mrs. Trotsky, and Aaron Frank as Ramon.

Stetson Theatre Arts’ Second Stage is located inside the Museum of Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., adjacent to the DeLand campus. Free parking. Admission for this production is $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors and students. Stetson students, faculty and staff are admitted free with a valid ID. Tickets will be available at the door and reserved tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. Box office will be open one hour prior to curtain. For information or reservations, call Stetson Theatre’s “Second Stage” box office at (386) 822-8700.

-Aliya Cruise, Stetson First-Year Student, Theatre Arts Marketing Manager