More than two months ago, on March 4th, over sixty actors and actresses from Jesuit, Ursuline Academy, Bishop Lynch, and Booker T. Washington auditioned with hopes of being cast in the Jesuit Spring One Acts.
The group of talented individuals was narrowed down in a draft between directors. They worked hard rehearsing for hours after school in order to prepare for their 10-15 minute shows. This year, the one acts were only performed one weekend, in contrast with the previous format of two weekends.
This hard work and dedication was displayed in the two days of performances on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.
Five different one acts, each directed by one or more senior directors, performed these two nights. One of these seniors who had previously acted in the skits, Aaron Stonecipher ’14, described the experience as “different. Instead of listening to directions and just focusing on one character, I have to have a full understanding of every character in the play–what they’re doing, what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, etc. It requires much more work, but it’s fun to experience that side of a production.” He said it made him appreciate Jesuit theater director Mr. David Myers, Mr. Chris Patterson, and Mr. Joe Howard.
Stonecipher and Ursuline senior Adrian Collins co-directed a one act titled “Soap Opera,” about a man who falls in love with his washing machine. Alex Curry ’14 and Caroline Arbour ’14 oversaw a Tarantino variation scene, while Brendan Brothers ’14 and Jack Ford ’14 directed a scene modeled after the board game Clue. Chuck Smith ’14 and Sabrina Miranda ’14 led “Mystery at Twicknam Vicarage.” Finally, Thomas Spottiswood directed an act titled “Chain Reaction.”
Spottiswood’s short act was a fan favorite. Written by a Jesuit freshman in Theater Arts class, and originally intended by the author to be a drama, the one act was converted into a hilarious comedy. With a cast including Marshall Baird ’15, James Abbott ’14, and Zachary Watts ’17, the scene drew uproarious laughter and applause from the audience.
All of the actors and actresses enjoy participating in the one acts for different reasons. For Chris Ayers ’15, “the best part is bonding and becoming part of a cast with new people…I mean I personally love to make people laugh and usually that’s why I do one acts.”
Meanwhile, James Butterfield ’15 notes that his “favorite part is definitely meeting new people.”
This year’s one acts included several freshmen playing big roles. One freshman, Martin Flores ’17, had his “first experience in Theater at Jesuit and I was really glad I was chosen from the students who auditioned. Overall, it was an awesome experience I’d recommend for anyone even if the stage isn’t your place…I felt the product we put out really reflected the work that went on behind it.”
Although the one acts saw the emergence of multiple new faces for the Jesuit Theater program, it also saw the final performances of many Jesuit seniors. One of these seniors, Justin Rubenstein ’14, explained that “although I’m sad I’m done with participating in Jesuit theatre, my peers and directors over the past year and a half have helped me form a good base for honing my acting skills. I hope to do a little bit of extracurricular theatre next year at TCU.”
Similarly, Aaron Stonecipher calls goodbye to Jesuit Theater “sad. It’s been a part of my life since my sophomore year, so to see it all end now is sad. However, the program is in great hands, and the young guys in the program are absolutely amazing.”
Next year, Jesuit will perform Amadeus in the fall, which has won a Tony for best play and an Oscar for best picture. There will also be the annual Winter One Acts.
A third production, Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery, will be performed as well. Mr. Myers describes it as “a big farce” that is “lots of fun.”
Finally, the program will hold its first-annual Spring Film Festival, which will feature movies from the filmmaking classes and will take the place of the Spring One Acts.
Though an amazing class of Jesuit Theater seniors is departing for college next year, there is a young group of talented actors on the horizon that will continue to expand the next generation of the Jesuit Theater Program.
