By James Shephard; Photo Credits to Caedmon Trozzo
Susquehanna University’s 24-Hour Play Festival kicked off the Theatre Department’s Second Stage season with a bang this past Saturday, Oct. 24.
What started on the evening of Friday, Oct.23r as an interest meeting with only a dozen students quickly morphed into seven written, directed, and staged oneact plays that were performed in front of an audience of roughly 40 of student’s peers, friends, and family.
Bekah Sprankle and Jason Peterson served as co-hosts for the event, with Second Stage Production Manager Natalie Dreyer serving as Stage Manager for the event.
Sprankle, a junior communications major who stepped into her first year as host for the event, said the following regarding the event:
“Going into my first time hosting 24-Hour Play Festival, I was, truthfully, pretty nervous. I quickly learned that I had no reason to be. This group made me feel so welcome and was an absolute pleasure to work with. We have so much talent on this campus both inside and outside of the arts departments, and being a part of this process really reminded me of that. I’m so grateful to have been involved this year, and I can’t wait for the next festival!”
Peterson, a senior Theatre and Psychology double major who co-hosted the event for the third time this year, talked about how even through the stress and constant movement of an event like this, “we can still come together and have such an amazing time together, creating their unique art and learning how to really relish in how fun it is to get to participate in this art form.”
The group of writers, actors, and directors met Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. in Issacs Auditorium to begin the rehearsal and preparation process.
One rehearsal took place throughout the day for each script, each one hour long; this allowed for a readthrough, direction and blocking from the director, and a run-through of the script.
Caedmon Trozzo and Luke Wisely were present throughout the day as technical directors, helping with sound, lighting, and any other technical help the directors needed.
The following is a list of the performances from the event:
“The Death Machine,” written by Kathleen Bauer and Directed by Isabella Lapetina, opened the show. It starred Samantha Summers as Tommy “The Death Machine” Thompson and James Shephard as Wiley “Wild” Jones.
The play followed two cowboys, “Wild” Jones and “The Death Machine” Tommy, who walk away from a duel with each other and discover a map to hidden treasure. Determined to prove his worth to “Wild” Jones, Tommy encourages that they search for it. After locating the mark on the map, Tommy starts digging, but while regaling Jones with the tale of his nickname, Jones begins to bury Tommy alive.
And who said you can’t trust an outlaw?
This was followed by “This Is Who We Are,” written by James Shephard and directed by Bekah Sprankle. Isabella Lapetina played Frank, Ace Kossiafoff portrayed Margie, and Cameron Baker played Flight Attendant.
This one act followed an elderly couple on a flight to Europe, when suddenly the flight attendant revealed, through inappropriately comedic fashion, that the plane would be unexpectedly and violently landing in the ocean. Faced with imminent death, the couple recounts their lives together, regrets they have over missed experiences and opportunities, and things they are grateful for. They discuss the meaning of living, and how one should live a life. After coming to terms with the nature of their life and now death, the flight attendant informs the plane of a slight miscommunication, and in fact they will be landing safely after all.
Third on the program was “The Installation,” which was written by Francis Rogal, directed by Jackson Schneider, and starred James Shephard as Hansal, Jaida Good as Maggie, Samantha Summers as Lambeth, and Jason Peterson as Robert.
The oneact that caused the most fright was that of “The Installation,” which followed a young woman commissioned for an unknown art piece. While Hansal, the esteemed craftsman encourages the woman, Lambeth, to talk continuously of herself, he draws a vigorously detailed drawing of Lambeth as a chair. Following her horror, Hansel informs her that is exactly what she has been commissioned for, and he goes through with his work.
Following this was “Rebrand,” written by Elliot Muller and directed by Ace Kossiakoff. It starred James Shephard as Nathan, Jaida Good as Belle, and Isabella Lapetina as Liz.
“Rebrand” followed friends Liz and Belle as Liz runs into an old friend named Nathan. Nathan, however, acts extremely odd and requests that he not be called by his name. Rather, he prefers to be called by his legal name: Pizza Hut. In light of Liz’s dismay, Nathan explains how the government has allotted a new program for million-dollar companies to expand their power to one individual to represent the company, leading to Nathan’s rebranding into “Pizza Hut.” Liz confronts the scheme and attempts to break Nathan out of the trance, ultimately bringing Nathan back, and they go out for some food at Subway.
“Accidents Happen” followed, which was written by Jackson Schneider and directed by James Shephard. The cast included Samatha Summers as Avery, Jaida Good as Mother, and Jason Peterson as Landon and Police Officer.
This piece followed the retelling of how 14-year-old Avery “killed” her mother. Avery walks the audience through the sequence of events that led to her mother being electrocuted by a wet outlet, which is painted to be her fault, although they are all coincidental occurrences. The act ends with the reveal that this story was being relayed not to the audience, but rather to the police officer whom Avery is on the phone with after her mother’s electrocution.
“Sixteen” came next, which was written by Gerry Hehir and directed by Jaida Good. The cast included Jason Peterson as Benny, Ace Kossiakoff as Caroline, and Jackson Schneider as Waitress.
This one act followed a dinner date at Denny’s that turns catastrophic when instead of receiving the expected meal, Benny receives a loudly ticking clock with a sixteen on it, and every other person around them freezes. Caroline, becoming frightened, asks what is happening, and Benny responds correctly by stating that they are likely witnessing the end of the world. As their relationship breaks down, their chances of survival dwindle, until ultimately the restaurant, as well as the world, explodes.
Last but certainly not least came “The Passenger Seat,” which featured Samantha Summers as both the writer and director of the piece. The cast included Jackson Schneider as Nyx, Isabella Lapetina as Selene, Jaida Good as Angelica, and Cameron Baker as Kayden.
“The Passenger Seat” followed a socially anxious person who has another entity inside her head controlling her actions and speech, supposedly against her will. Much to their distaste, the two must help each other to find a compromise that allows them to get out of this unlikely and uncomfortable situation and lets them both live the life they want to live.
The success of the Theatre Department’s Second Stage kick off is a testament to commitment, passion, and ingenuity in the arts community. Whether you’re a major in the arts, an admirer from afar, or an interested individual looking to build something special, the arts thrive as a community of acceptance, change, and progress.
Congratulations to those who took part in the event, and a special thanks to those who attended the event, for their participation keeps the performing arts alive.