Four students are bringing their writing and acting talents to the stage in “Flying Solo” Oct. 18-22 in the Performing Arts Center Arena Theatre.
St. Cloud State University’s first play of the season, the show features four theatre majors who have written and will perform original solo works. The performances take different trajectories and cover a wide array of issues and experience. The performances are directed by Associate Professor Jen Tuder.”
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Nick Poulos, Shakopee, and Shannon Sharp, Cold Spring, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and Oct. 20.
Poulos’ performance “Don’t Know What I’m Doing” is a story of self-awareness as Poulos seeks to explain why he is the way he is and puts his inner demons to rest.
Sharp’s “All Trapped Up In A Skinny Suit” looks at a year in the life of a woman trying to navigate her own path to rediscovering her identity. The show includes the themes of mental health, body image, family and feminism. The show contains visual themes of body mutilation and self-harm.
Damien Koutoupas, St. Joseph, and Anthony Hoard, Fridley, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 and Oct. 21.
Koutoupas’ performance “Life on the Edge of Chaos: or, Why I Left the Left” looks at a first-time voter’s political shift to the right just in time for the election of Donald Trump.
Hoard’s piece “Ricky Dayne: A Full Time Black Activist” looks at 241 years of history and a thousand questions. It explores why as a black man he has become an activist and why people are angry.
All four artists will perform at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 with an intermission during the show.
The students worked together in workshops at focused on exercises, script building work and reading and responding to one another’s work, Tuder said.
“For me, one of the best things about being able to do this kind of work is really facilitating students finding their own voices and getting to say what they want to say,” she said. “… Solo work is DIY and so embracing that as an aesthetic and teaching students how much they can do on their own with that is also, I think, really empowering.”
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students or free with a St. Cloud State ID. “Flying Solo” contains mature themes, profanity and nudity.
Artists’ descriptions
“Don’t Know What I’m Doing” written & performed by Nick Poulos
“Don’t Know What I’m Doing” is a story about self-awareness. Follow me, as I not so graciously stumble through my life in an effort to turn my brain off for 45 minutes, explain why I am the way that I am, and ultimately put my inner demons to rest. What could possibly go wrong?“All Trapped Up In A Skinny Suit” written & performed by Shannon Sharp
“This show will guide audiences through a year in a young woman’s mind, life, and body, as she tries to navigate her own path to rediscovering her identity. A show for anyone struggling with mental health, body image, family, and elements of feminism.
Trigger Warning: Show may have triggering visual themes of body mutilation and self harm.
“Life on the Edge of Chaos: or, Why I Left the Left” written & performed by Damien Koutoupas
A show about a first-time voter’s political shift to the Right, right in time for the election of Donald Trump. The election may be over, but the daily grind never truly goes away.“Ricky Dayne: A Full Time Black Activist” written & performed by Anthony Hoard
One man, two hundred and forty-one years of history, and a thousand questions. You want to know why as a black man he must become an activist? You want to know why people are so angry? You’ll have to see the show to even get close to understanding.
