Student directors and actors will bring to life three short plays April 20-23 in “Student Spotlight: An Evening of Short Plays.”
The show opens at 7:30 p.m. April 20 with showings at 7:30 April 21-22 and 2 p.m. April 23 on the Performing Arts Center’s Arena Stage.
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Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors or free with a St. Cloud State ID. Parking is available for $1.50 per hour in the 4th Avenue Parking Ramp.
Student directors Jackie Keller and Nick Poulos are directing “Graceland”, “Asleep on the Wind” and “Charlie.” The plays are entirely directed, performed, produced, designed and managed by advanced theatre students.
“Graceland”, written by Ellen Bryon, tells the story of two women who love Elvis Presley who battle to become the first person to enter Elvis’ home, Graceland.
“Asleep on the Wind”, also written by Bryon, tells the story of Rudy, one of the women from “Graceland.” The play follows her past growing up in the South with her large family and her brother Beau, who is departing for the military. The story explains Rudy’s love for Elvis and why Graceland is so important to her.
“Charlie”, by Polish playwright Slawomir Mrozek, follows an eye doctor faced with a brooding threat when a grandson and his grandfather walk into his office with a shotgun. The pair is looking for a man named Charlie, who happens to be the eye doctor.
The Spotlight plays will be the first time directing for junior Nick Poulos.
“This process has been a huge learning experience for me,” he said. “… The biggest thing that I learned was how to effectively communicate to both my actors as well as my designers. I know I still have a lot to learn about directing and a long way to go, but I’ve certainly made a lot of progress over the course of this show.”
Weller and Poulos are directing the plays as part of Professor Brenda Wentworth’s upper-level directing class.
“It’s certainly a lot of hard work on everyone’s part, but the payoff is more than worth it,” Poulos said. “I think everyone involved has worked hard to create a show that I think the audience will enjoy. … Come see the show if you want a night filled with laughs.”
