Fast-paced plays with a variety of themes will enthrall audiences when the lights shine in Behan Arena Theatre for an upcoming production at Tusculum University.
Theatre-at-Tusculum will present the “5 X 10 Plays” starting Friday, April 25, as part of a six-show run. Traditionally, the production has featured five plays lasting about 10 minutes apiece, but due to the quality of submissions, leaders have increased the number of plays to seven.
“We love holding this show every other year as a way to highlight excellent playwriting and terrific acting from the Tusculum family and community members,” said Steve Schultz, director of Tusculum Arts Outreach, who is overseeing the “5 X 10 Plays. “This a different theater experience because of the short time frame for each of the plays, and there is plenty to enjoy. We are excited to showcase the talent of Tusculum students and many local theater veterans who will delight audiences with another quality production.”
The plays are:
· “Home for Christmas,” written by Tusculum student Cheyenne Hewitt and directed by Dodger Kirkland
· “In a Pickle,” written by Tusculum student Tate Haugen and directed by Andy Ross
· “The Final Stage,” written by recent Tusculum graduate Z.T. Mitchell and directed by Ed Breese, the university’s marketing director.
· “Sleeping Upstairs,” written by Tusculum student Isabella Gall and directed by Frank Mengel
· “Dead Mom’s Club,” written by Kirkland and directed by Erin Hensley Schultz, the university’s costume director
· “The Phone Call,” written by Abigail Malone and directed by Tusculum student Josie Norton
· “White Cane Boy,” written by Tusculum student Tim Hagans and Steve Schultz and directed by Steve Schultz
You can see further details about each play by visiting https://bit.ly/3Gbxrxx.
Kirkland, who was a cast member in the 2023 production, said he enjoys participating in the 5 X 10 format.
“It’s a really creative use of local talent,” he said. “I like using actors and playwrights from different experience levels. From a writer’s standpoint, you have to fit a lot of exposition into action. It’s not like you have five to 10 minutes at the start of the play to get how everyone in the play knows each other and how we arrived at this point. It’s having to happen during the action. There are similar elements as a director. It’s also not a super long rehearsal process.”
Peyton Bergquist, a cast member of “In a Pickle,” said she likes to see how all of the plays in the show collaborate. She has acted in the “5 X 10 Plays” before as well as in longer-format shows, and she prefers he shorter performances.
“It’s definitely easier in general to focus on and allows you to play with the character more because you have more range in what their opinions are and thoughts are to create the character,” she said. “At the same time, you have less to base your character on, and you might have an idea but you can’t share it as easily as you could in a longer form. It’s nice to be able to connect with an audience so quickly, and you have to be able to do it quickly if you are doing a short-form play.”
Todd Wallin, a Tusculum student and the other cast member for “In a Pickle,” is returning for a second time to the “5 X 10 Plays” as an actor.
“What I really like is it gives an opportunity to see multiple directors’ and writers’ views and how the writers craft the story and work with the directors to make this really neat product in a short time frame. This year’s production is particularly exciting because so many of the writers are local playwrights. It gives them a chance to show off their work. One of the things that also makes the ‘5 X 10 Plays’ so special is that actors who may be worried about getting into that long form have an ability to dip their toes into something that’s shorter first and decide whether they like it.”
Performances will be held April 25, April 26, May 2 and May 3 at 7 p.m. and April 27 and May 4 at 2 p.m. in the Behan, which is located on the lower level of Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center. Tickets are on sale at https://www.onthestage.tickets/tusculum-university. Including card fees, the cost is $19.90 for anyone 13-64, $17.82 for people 65 and older and $7.42 for anyone who is 12 and younger.
Anyone with questions can email Steve Schultz at [email protected]. To learn more about Tusculum’s arts programs, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/center-for-the-arts/. Additional information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.
