2023 One Act Plays

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Date: November 9, 10, 11, 2023
Directed by: Cindy Kreicar

Beth Bradley’s church’s Christmas pageant is predictable every year -- the angel choir wears too much lipstick, the shepherds are all in their father’s bathrobes, the minister’s son is permanently cast in the role of Joseph -- hardly “four-star entertainment.” But when seasoned and authoritative pageant director Mrs. Armstrong breaks her leg, it is up to Beth’s inexperienced mother Grace to step in. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the rambunctious Herdman children, a rough and tough group of siblings from the wrong side of the tracks, descend upon the pageant, lured by the promise of free dessert at Sunday school, and determined to win all the lead roles for themselves. The Ladies’ Aid Society members are beside themselves with disapproval, all the shepherds quit because Gladys Herdman “hits too hard”, the show is briefly re-titled “Revenge at Bethlehem”, and the church catches on fire. But Beth and her community watch in surprise as the same old Christmas story is rejuvenated by the creativity, energy, and unexpected sincerity of a misunderstood young family.

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Antigone

Date: November 9, 10, 11, 2023
Directed by: Cindy Kreicar

A civil war has ended. Will there be peace or new rebellion? The question is asked by the Chorus. What if your family, your friends, everyone you cared about begged you to change your mind, begged you to be silent—be safe? What if your life was in danger because of a decision you made, an action you decided to take? Would you be willing to die for taking that action? Or would you refuse the responsibility of making that decision? Taking that action? The Chorus, not just bystanders but entities hoping to influence the outcome, speak not only to the audience but also directly to the timeless characters of Antigone. Each chorus member argues the side of one of the characters, hoping, this time, to bring understanding and peace to the war-torn land. There are no heroes, no villains here. Only individuals who face the choice: should I do what I feel is right? Or should I stay silent and safe? This adaptation can be set anywhere there is civil strife, or civil war—ancient Greece, modern America, a medieval castle, turn of the 20th century Ireland, the inner city, the future, any time and place that speaks to you. The possibilities are endless for staging and setting this timeless story.

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Our Place

Date: November 9, 10, 11, 2023
Directed by: Cindy Kreicar

The unassuming location of a dock extending out onto a small lake serves as the backdrop for five different stories. On a cool autumn night, Jake arrives with Holly at a secluded spot. The couple feels an immediate connection to this place as if it were put there just for them. Things seem perfect until Anne and her date, Lyle, arrive. On another day, early in the morning, Beth has plans to spend the day with her dad at their favorite fishing place. She has high hopes for catching some sunshine, a few fish, and her dad's fading memories. The third story involves Al, who arrives at the dock with his family and has high expectations for their family canoe trip. The only problem is that his wife would rather stay inside, his son has a chip on his shoulder, and his daughter is really weird. In the fourth story, Cory and Liberty are having a picnic lunch out by the lake, but a realization about tuna-fish sandwiches sends a shockwave through their relationship and brings about questions of who they are and what lies ahead for them. In the fifth story, Stanley escapes the hardships of his life to blow off some steam on the dock when Sidney, his 6-year-old sister, arrives. All he wants is for her to go away, but she insists on staying with him. The entire ensemble gathers on the dock together for the final scene. In a poetic epilogue, they all discover the true meaning of Our Place—both comedic and tragic.

The play will be preformed by the drama 2-3-4 class.