The Douglas High School Drama club is putting on a One-Act Festival with a drama and a comedy. The cast of both pictured.
Photo by Sarah Drinkwine.
Douglas High School’s drama club features one play with a deep message and another written and directed by students for the One-Act Festival Nov. 15-16 at the high school.
The first One-Act, directed by senior Cierra Schuler, is “Darklight,” written by playwriter Lindsay Price and examines depression and anxiety in teens.
Throughout a series of scenes, characters fight their inner thoughts, search for truths, and have surreal conversations with death.
“It’s a pretty heavy show,” said Schuler. “I have struggles with anxiety and I have seen friends go through depression and I want to be someone who speaks up about it and not it be a taboo subject.”
Schuler has been in drama since her sophomore year as part of the tech team. This will be her first time directing a production.
“As a tech, you’re involved in one subject, but as a director you are involved with it all and giving direction to the actors and tech crew,” said Schuler. “It’s been an interesting experience.”
Due to the sensitive nature of the play, it comes with a trigger and viewer discretion is advised.
The second act, is a comedy written and directed by Douglas High School students, Violet Pierson and Cash Michael Bourquin.
The play, “What happens in Portland,” follows two rival sitcoms that become self-aware of the show.
“It’s like the Truman Show,” said Pierson. “They start becoming aware of their self-reality.”
Bourquin said the show plays a lot on stereotypical sitcom jokes, mostly from shows from the 1990’s.
“We played with the idea of a sitcom that made fun of its own genre,” said Bourquin. “We thought, what if we made something like Seinfield meets the Truman Show.”
The duo wrote the play over the summer.
“Once we had an idea, it started to flow pretty well,” said Bourquin. “The hard part was editing it and making sure it was school appropriate.”
Both have been in drama throughout their school career. Pierson became involved as an actor her freshman year, and Bourquin has been performing since the second grade.
“What happens in Portland” is the first play both have directed.
“This is a new experience for both of us,” said Bourquin. “Seeing a play come to life from writing to stage has been surreal.”
Douglas High School drama teacher Renee Kaldor said the One-Act Festival is part of the reginal and state competitions.
“The winning act during the festival here will go on to regionals,” said Kaldor.
Last year, the comedy “Superheroes: With Great Power Comes Ordinary Responsibility,” made it all the way to State in Las Vegas.
“I am so proud of them all, they have worked so hard,” said Kaldor. “This group and all 3 directors have put in an extreme amount of dedication, and they deserve for people to come and watch their shows.”
The One-Act Festival will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 in the Drama room at Douglas High School. Doors open at 7 p.m. A matinee showing will be 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16. Doors open at 2 p.m. Cost is $10 at the door.
