Grove City puts on 'Random Acts'
GROVE CITY — This year’s fall production at Grove City High School is “Random Acts of Comedy: An Evening of One Acts,” a collection of five short plays that will be presented at 7 p.m. Nov. 17, 18 and 19 at the high school theater, 511 Highland Ave.
Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults and are available at the door the nights of the shows.
The five short plays are:
‘The Audition’ by Don ZolidisA new theater teacher is bringing a production of “A Chorus Line” to the high school. Though the hopefuls range from shy to outrageous, and from divalike to determined, everyone has a chance to step into the spotlight. A hilarious and heartbreaking look at the madness of auditioning and the actors who brave the process.
‘The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet’ by Peter BloedelA whimsical reinvention of Shakespeare’s tragic love story, complete with rhymed couplets, creative wordplay, and fantastical machines — similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with if he ever had his way with the script.
‘Cut’ by Ed MonkA group of actors rehearses a play within a play within a play. As the plot complications multiply, the actors begin to forget who is playing whom and who is the real director — as opposed to the actor who is playing the director, or vice versa. Then they can’t seem to remember who they really are, as opposed to the people they are playing in any of the various scripts. Then things start to get confusing.
‘15 Reasons Not to be in a Play’ by Alan HaehnelThis is a play about not being in a play, ironically expressed through a hilarious series of monologues, duets, and ensemble scenes.From early traumas involving a glory-seeking elementary school teacher to possible disturbances in the global climate, “15 Reasons Not To Be in a Play” keeps the audience guessing.
‘The Actor’s Nightmare’ by Christopher Durang*Having casually wandered onstage, George is informed that one of the actors, Eddie, has been in an auto accident and he must replace him immediately.Apparently no one is sure of what play is being performed but George (costumed as Hamlet) seems to find himself in the middle of a scene from “Private Lives,” surrounded by such luminaries as Sarah Siddons, Dame Ellen Terry and Henry Irving.As he fumbles through one missed cue after another the other actors shift to Hamlet, then a play by Samuel Beckett, and then a climactic scene from what might well be “A Man for All Seasons” at which time the disconcerted George has lost all sense of contact with his fellow performers.Yet, in the closing moments of the play, he rises to the occasion and finally says the right lines, whereupon make believe suddenly gives way to reality as the executioner’s ax (meant for Sir Thomas Moore) instead sends poor George to oblivion — denying him a well-earned curtain call.The Actor’s Nightmare is produced through an arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. All other plays are produced through an arrangement with Playscripts.ProductionThe director is Patrick McElroy, and the student director is Christina Bedeski. The stage manager is Rebecca Aloisio and the assistant stage manager is Kassie Boyd.Morgan McCommon is in charge of makeup. Jayson Reppart is in charge of props. Hanna Srour is in charge of costumes. Morgan McCommona and Lindsey Cummings are responsible for sound, lights and chairs.Ensemble CastGeorgia Coulter, Maria DiStasim Corban Dunn, Lily Dunn, Abby Frey, Genevieve Harvey,Jessie Livingston, Cammie Messer, Emily Minch, Nick Paparone, Janae Powell, Jayson Reppart, Garrett Shaw,Hannah Srour, Karli Sutton, Noah Voltz, Madison Wick, Lauren Wright and John Wishing.
