This year the theatre department of the campus had decided to expand its horizons, and try something new. During the spring semester the idea of the 10-Minute Play Festival was born. Through this, students were assigned to their own groups, and had the objective to create their own script and perform it for parents to later vote on which was their favorite at the end of the night.
Each and every student that partakes in the fine arts of theatre was able to get not only more experience with acting, but experience in directing their own scripts and shows for the first time.
“I think the 10 minute play was a pretty cool chance to experience what our very own directors and tech go through when curating plays and musicals each year,” junior Sofia Lawless said. “Though chaotic this year, if we continue to tweak and add more to the overall experience of making it, it will for sure become something Willis can enjoy yearly.”
Because of the department branching out with new ideas, many students believe this is a very special opportunity to keep growing with more and more chances to continue making everyone’s acting skills better and better.
“I think the concept of a student-led theatre festival is very intriguing and had a great outcome,” junior Emma Johnston said. “I think I would prefer to do something more improv based next year so we can have improv workshops throughout the year to prepare and better ourselves when acting on the spot”
The actors and actresses themselves realized this quickly, and stated that what they enjoyed the most about the 10-Minute Play Festival was the fact that students were the ones running the entire show, even writing the scripts and all.
“The play fest gave students a chance to showcase their writing, directing, acting, and collaboration skills,” junior Olivia Calvello said. “With minimal input from directors, it creates a student-led opportunity that students don’t always get the chance to participate in. All in all, it was an amazing experience for us theatre kids, and I think that’s all that matters.”
However, with each big company celebration, there are extra fun concepts that are also thrown in. Between each show, there were ‘distractors’ who got to perform their very own talents through singing or playing an instrument–while the actors and actresses set up their set for the next show.
“What I enjoyed about the ten minute play was how much we worked together and how much we improved over time, and seeing it come together,” sophomore Julianna Fogleman said. “We put our minds together to make something meaningful. Being a distracter was utterly terrifying but it built my confidence and let me take another step higher into being more comfortable on stage, which I struggle with.”
As the time frame for when the 10-Minute Play Festival was held led directly towards the end of the UIL season for the Dramakats, the idea also had acted as a positive note to end everything on instead of wishing UIL was continuing.
“I think a 10-minute play festival each year will allow the company to grow closer together,” Calvello said. “As it acts as an opportunity for students to showcase the skills they’ve worked at home throughout the school year, both as a cast and individuals. Not only that, but it provides seniors with a kind of ‘last hurrah’ to bond with cast members, get their moment in the spotlight, and wrap up their high school theatre experience.”
Even if the performances or the idea wasn’t everyone’s favorite, it will still lead a brand new foundation of theatre in the steps of the next upperclassmen who wish to keep the fine arts within their lives.
“I think, while the festival wasn’t necessarily as big of a hit with the audience/community members as, say, the school musical.” Calvello said. “It was very fun to put on and perform as a student, and I think, a lot of times, we don’t get much liberty with the musical, what with it being such a huge collaboration with all the different departments, or with one act, since those shows tend to be much more academic/scholarly.”
For how much effort was put into this right after the Dramakats finished Macbeth however, it overall turned out to be a pretty solid net positive in terms of how much of a good time everyone had, whether they were acting or watching.
“I think it was a great opportunity for students to produce creative work,” theatre arts teacher Cassandra Matlock said. “It shaped students by showing them the amount of work it takes to produce a show and how to get actors to work together. It was mostly successful in the fact that the audience had a good time.”
A new foundation for all students in theatre has been set. A new future was made, and it was all because these students got together and fixed up a few scripts and laughs for their friends and family alike to all enjoy.
“I think the 10 minute play festival will shape the landscape of the Willis theatre department,” sophomore Annabella Gault said. “Being given the opportunity to perform something completely original was such an amazing experience, and I learned so many new things related towards theatre. I would love it if students could further their education performance opportunities by being able to have a giant theatre experience.”
