Students will take the reins of producing, directing and in appearing in three one-act comedy plays on April 6-8 at Rogers State University.
“The faculty will be stepping out of the way as the students take full responsibility for all aspects of production of three very funny plays,” said David Blakely, RSU assistant professor and coordinator of the new RSU theatre program.
The students, most of whom are members of the RSU Student Theatre Organization, will present three comedies by David Ives, a well-known playwright who specializes in one-act productions.
The audience will be able to see all three plays at 8:06 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 6-8, at the Will Rogers Auditorium on the RSU campus in Claremore. Each play will last approximately 20 minutes. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and free to all RSU students, faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling (918) 343-7521.
The plays will include “Arabian Nights,” “Sure Thing” and “Words, Words, Words,” three of Ives’ better-known works.
“Arabian Nights” begins with the utterly normal Norman, who walks into the utterly ordinary Flora’s shop, looking for a souvenir of his travels. Together they find whirlwind romance, spurred on by a wacky translator. The play will be directed by David Nichols, an RSU sophomore from Claremore. The cast members are Christopher Bowles, Bartlesville junior, Traci Rainwater, Pryor sophomore and Desiree Mitchell, a sophomore from Elk City, Okla.
“Sure Thing” is a contemporary comedy in which two people meet in a cafe and find their way through a conversational minefield on the way to falling in love. “Sure Thing” will be directed by Blake Roode, Claremore sophomore. Cast members include and Desirae Roses, a freshman from Portland, Ore.
“Words, Words, Words” recalls the philosophical adage that three monkeys typing into infinity will sooner or later produce Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and poses the question: “what would monkeys talk about at their typewriters?” The play will be directed by Amanda Self, Inola junior. Cast members (monkeys) include Josh Buehler, Oologah sophomore, Stephanie Garrison, Catoosa sophomore and Kristina Lee, a junior from Coffeyville, Kan.
For more information, call (918) 343-7521.