Three advanced College of Lake County theater students all chose a one-act satiric comedy to direct at the seventh annual Play On, which opens April 14.
One play involves an anger-management class; another presents two construction workers given the absurd project of building the Tower of Babel; and a third delves into the issue of whether to promote a product even if you don’t believe in it.
Audiences should be able to relate to all of the plays, which last about 25 minutes each, said Craig Rich, CLC theatre department co-chairman.
“The plays are funny and contemporary. I think people will really connect to them and take something away from them after they’re done laughing. That’s the best type of comedy. You laugh, you’re enjoying it and then there’s a moment when you make a connection” to your own life, Rich said.
Students selected to direct the plays must meet certain criteria. For example, they have to have taken directing and other classes at CLC and also served as an assistant director to a faculty or guest director. Student directors work with student actors, designers, stage managers and technicians.
“This experience is really a capstone for them and prepares them to continue their career,” Rich said. All three directors will major in theater in a four-year college next year, have been nominated for awards for their work, and through CLC have traveled to other parts of the nation and the world to further their studies.
Student director Liz Hernandez of Zion is directing “The Clive Way” by John P. Dowgin. The play deals with men who attend an anger-management class and are just about to finish the course when a motivational speaker challenges what they’ve learned.
More Top Picks Apple Watch Se
“It calls into question a lot of what they’ve been learning. Is this helpful or not? It asks people to think about whether they have the power to change, and if you do, how do you go about it?” Rich said.
The second play “Babel’s in Arms” is written by David Ives, who Rich called one of the nation’s most famous contemporary comedic playwrights.
The play is about two Mesopotamian construction workers tasked with building the tower of Babel. “The question is how are they going to do it and how long is it going to take them. It is really funny and witty. The play looks at the disparity between classes.”
Student director Cody Summer of Lindenhurst “has a really strong sense of physicality and this is a perfect project for him,” Rich said.
Summer is using the comedic tool of repetition not only through the play’s words, but also through movement and gestures, Rich said.
The final play, “The Banderscott” is about an advertising executive who needs to create a campaign for a new product, but doesn’t really know what the product does.
“When he finds out what it does, he has this moral dilemma. ‘How am I supposed to market this and should I market it?’ There’s a lot of physicality in this piece,” Rich said.
Student director Nicholas Johnson of Waukegan is meeting the task of managing 11 actors and actresses along with staging physical humor, Rich said.
“These are our best students – they’re directing, designing, stage managing, performing. They’re doing it all and I couldn’t be more proud of them. We keep doing this every year because it’s a great experience for them and it’s a great experience for the community to come and see what our students are learning.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
Play On
When: 7: 30 p.m., April 14, 15, 21, 22; 2 p.m., April 23
Where: James Lumber Center, 19351 Washington St., Grayslake
Tickets: $10-$12
Information: 847-543-2300; www.clcillinois.edu/tickets