The King's Page
Theatre aiming for OscarsTuesday, June 09, 2009 By Kiara Fuller
Lights, camera, action! It isn’t an easy task to put on a high school production, but the directors, actors, actresses and behind the scene workers of the Rufus King theatre department did a superb job producing the “Pen of Emotion” fall one-acts Oct. 17-19. One-act plays, directed and produced by students, have a long history here at Rufus King. Typically, the students involved are seniors taking IB Theatre II, who use these one acts as their IB independent projects. Students must write a paper based on their journey throughout the production. All IB Theatre II students have to do an independent project but they can choose their own production to report on, therefore all students don’t take advantage of the opportunity to direct one-acts. The “Pen of Emotion” production consisted of 3 different one-act plays. These plays included “The Military’s Tomorrow,” “Core Beliefs” and “Protect Me from my Friends.” “The Military’s Tomorrow,” written and directed by TalorMarie Rudolph, is about two strong individuals who come together in an unconventional relationship, and one of them dies. The story unfolds in flashbacks and ends in the present. “Core Beliefs,” written by Jared Marchant and directed by Leo Peavey III, is about a corrupt family. The father has beliefs that differ greatly from the mother’s beliefs; the child, trying to form his own beliefs, is caught in the middle and eventually gives up, committing suicide. “Protect Me From My Friends,” written and directed by Brittney McKinley, is about a love triangle that results in a broken friendship between three best friends and a death of one of the friends. “The one-acts alone are important because it is my grade for my independent project. Not only that, but I was able to show case my talent to the student body and the community!” says McKinley. Although students produce the one-act plays, theatre and creative writing teacher Rhoda Nathan advises them all. This is Ms. Nathan’s second year teaching at Rufus King, and she sets high goals for all her students. “The one-act plays were brilliant! I think the students did a really good job and the material was good. It’s hard to do theatre, but the people in this department work really hard! I hope more people consider joining the theatre department,” says Nathan. Rufus King hopes for a re-run of this success in the spring. For all theatre loving people looking forward to the next opportunity to see a play, watch for “Crowns,” directed by Ms. Nathan. “Crowns” will be performed December 5-7. |