One Act Begins Production Under Student Leadership

By: Sergio Lopez

Drama Students describe their role in the upcoming One Acts and their experiences leading the process.

This year’s One Acts performance is approaching, with the process beginning now in March. The One Acts are the Drama department’s yearly final, consisting of professionally made single-act-long shows with student-written secondaries, all combined together with student acting.

The responsibility for creating and managing the One Acts alongside Drama Director Galvan falls under a group of students labeled “The Table,” composed of several long-time students of Drama who oversee and lead the development of every aspect of the One Acts.

Nathaniel Crabtree, ‘23 is one of the people a part of leading the One Acts, saying that it develops early with picking out shows and scripts: “You kind of get to notice people and in your head [you] cast before any auditions.” Crabtree says how “it gets a little anxious,” with the Drama 3/4 students responsible for “almost all the Drama classes,” having to cast all the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, being hard to try and be able to “fit everyone and make sure they feel apart of the whole show.”

For many students, this could possibly be their first experience in the One Acts. Crabtree says that although last year was the first official return of the One Acts, it’s many people’s first time being able to perform as last year, “a lot of people did get sick from COVID.” Because of this, many students are looking forward to this year, finally being able to be involved and “not have to stay home sick.”

Crabtree says he wasn’t as deeply involved last year as this year. This year he holds a more direct involvement in the creation of the One Act, being confident in his position, currently being a Teacher’s Aid for the Drama 2 students, saying how he “pretty much knows all the kids there,” while also being heavily involved in the Fall play and Musical helping “direct and stage manage.”

Another person apart of leading the One Acts is Kylie Schieferle, ‘23, saying that being a part of the Table is, “honestly one of [her] favorite positions to have in Drama,” being able to work with all the other Drama students and upcoming leaders next year.

She describes it as a “really fun and collaborative environment,” being able to share creative ideas and watch them “come to life.” Last year, Schieferle was able to help direct the Drama Two One Acts, saying how it prepared her for this year and allowed her to help “get comfortable with being a leader.” Now in return, she is able to demonstrate to next year’s students “what it means to be a leader.” Schieferle says that her role is “definitely big shoes to fill” but that she’s “really excited” getting to work with people. She also feels anxious but in a “good way,” knowing that the Drama department is going to do “really well” as they are “already working so hard and are excited to show everyone what they got.”

Rebecca Brennan, ‘23, another leader for the One Act says how she is responsible for “reading all the scripts that have been submitted” along with “helping to choose which ones are good or that would work with the students [they] have this year.” On top of her responsibilities at the Table, she will also be helping with props, and this year she will be one of the few Directors.

Brennan says how she has “loved doing the One Act,” although never personally being able to perform because of the absence created by the pandemic. Last year she “was going to perform,” but was unfortunately sick with Covid.

This year, finally being able to perform, Brennan says she is “excited,” additionally feeling “a lot of responsibility” in her role, but having been a part of last year’s performance, she doesn’t feel that nervous or anxious. Brennan ends by saying how after the pandemic the Drama Department had a “rough year” but that now they’re getting “back into shape,” they are looking forward to “a lot of really good years.”

Specific dates and information about the One Acts are still scarce because of how early it is in development, but throughout the following months more is going to become available throughout Redwood and the Gigantea.

Sergio Lopez

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Sergio Lopez ('24), is a junior at Redwood High and a first-year journalism student for the Gigantea. He is passionate about anything entertainment based and hopes to pursue either Political or Computer science in the future.