Playwrights Grey Davis (left) and Nyles Emile discuss their works that will be presented as part of the One-Act Play Festival.
The writing talents of Fredonia students will be in the spotlight in the next Walter Gloor Mainstage Series event.
The Department of Theatre and Dance will present its first One-Act Play Festival from April 25 to 27 in Bartlett Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center.
The festival will feature 14 one-act plays, with seven being presented at each performance. Performance dates and times are Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available online 24/7. Tickets may also be purchased on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by phone at (716) 673-3501 or in person at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center during the same hours.
Daniel F. Lendzian, assistant professor of performance, is curating the One-Act Play Festival. He said the Department of Theatre and Dance has moved toward presenting more student-created works. It included the presentation of “Alicia’s Lens” this past February and “Mason Wright is Not a Mother” during the 2023-24 season.
The 14 works to be premiered during the One-Act Play Festival are:
- “All Clear” by Dylan Burley
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
Samuel and Charlotte are living in a cellar while the Battle of Gettysburg rages above them. The two anxiously await together while hoping that Charlotte’s brother will survive the battle. Samuel proposes to Charlotte one night, and Charlotte cannot give him an answer. The next morning Samuel discovers they have run out of food and water. The two must figure out how to survive the rest of the battle, while also trying to see if their relationship will survive as well. - “Let Me See” by Andrew Giandomenico
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
After buying a new mirror for their bedroom, Gemma and Reverie realize they can see each other through the mirror. As they learn from each other that they live the same life, but in different worlds, they learn there’s one big difference between them. - “The Luncheon for Assassinated Presidents” by Fletcher Dickmann
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
In the afterlife, former president William McKinley and his wife, Ida, are preparing the 143rd Annual Luncheon for Assassinated Presidents. McKinley reveals that this year he has decided not to invite the ‘unimportant’ James Garfield. Soon after, Garfield himself arrives, much to McKinley’s dismay. The two presidents are forced into awkward conversation until Ida gets the news that Lincoln and JFK are not coming. Tensions between the two men rapidly escalate as they are forced to reconsider their notions of what it means to be remembered. - “Reverberations” by Grey Davis
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
Pandora, ever the creature of curiosity, finds herself lost in a labyrinth. During her wonder, she stumbles across a grotto… and its guardian. Pandora wants to take the opportunity in the light of the grotto to figure out a plan to escape, but now she needs to navigate her situation and the strange guardian in her vicinity. - “Group” by Katherine Eichenberger
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
It has been five weeks since some new members joined this emotion regulation therapy group for teens. While most of them work diligently to make progress on their mental health, Devin refuses, escaping into his own world with his headphones. When the other patients learn that Devin plans to just sit there defiantly for seven more weeks to get credit for attending, they realize that he’s not just taking a while to get settled in. The others confront him, led by the group’s veteran, Rachel. They must decide whether to consider Devin a lost cause or try to convince him to take on an active role in his own recovery. - “The Father & The Son” by Ethan Mota Lopes
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
Edgar, an old man, hears something strange in his neighborhood late at night. Not soon after, he finds Henry, his next-door neighbor. Edgar has to figure out what exactly is going on. What was the noise and did it have something to do with Henry?
- “Doctor BloodPatch” by Benjamin Evans
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
Doctor Michaels, a modern 14th century doctor, is kidnapped by pirates and forced to tend to their wounds. When the doctor tries to sabotage his own work, he accidentally heals the people he means to kill. - “Sun & Moon Dance” by KK LaBarbera
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
The Sun and the Moon abandon their orbits to be together. When they find out they’ve left earth on the brink of extinction, what will they choose to do? Stay together and doom humanity? Or return to their responsibilities? - “Citizen #673” by Holden Stevenson
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
“Citizen #673” takes place in a divided society, where “citizens” live in the guarded city of Bivias and “workers” are forced to live outside the city’s border. Graham, a worker, is discussing the upcoming Assignment Day with his siblings. Tomorrow, Graham and the rest of the 18-year-old workers will be given a job that they are expected to undertake for the rest of their lives. Although Graham has never been in the city, he carries resentment towards the citizen’s way of life. Will this change when he comes face to face with the runaway Citizen #673? - “Forgive” by Nyles Emile
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
What does it mean to forgive someone or something? How do you believe in yourself? A school presentation takes a turn where familial problems force these characters to forgive themselves for their heartache. While at a beach a father and daughter are spending a day with each other. - “Son of the Dragon” by Harlequinn Casanova
(performed April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 27 at 2 p.m.)
Vlad and Radu are teenagers and have been political hostages of the Ottoman Empire for four years. Vlad convinces Radu to play a game with him instead of studying. Radu fails a test of loyalty and Vlad provokes him into a physical altercation. Their tutor comes around to discipline them for wrestling when they should have been studying. - “The Tommy Records” by Rhiannon Craver
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
Joe is an assemblyman at the Albany Capitol Building. He is visited by Kristen, a woman who wants to fight for open adoption records in New York State. Joe has to get to another meeting, but Kristen reveals she has been looking for her brother who was put up for adoption 30 years ago. - “The Ultimate Driving Test” by Lauren Shilansky
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
What happens when the worst driver in the world takes his sixth driving test, and the person giving him the test has never given one before? Well, in this play it means they compete in the Indy 500. Filled with sentient cars, love, and a little red wagon, will Ethan pass his driver’s test? Will anyone survive the craziest professional car race of all time? - “Lovers and Madmen” by Ayden F. Herreid
(performed April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m.)
Three friends are leaving a party, tension has been building between everyone leading to conflict and a question of what love is.
The One-Act Play Festival is presented as part of the 2024-25 Lake Shore Savings Season.
