On Feb. 14 in W.D. Powell Theater, Union University students who are part of a group called Mainstage directed and acted in 10-minute plays. There were six consecutive plays in total.
Three student directors used plays that were in the public domain, while the other three wrote their own.
This was the inaugural showcase of 10-minute plays and opened opportunities for students to take on new roles — not only as actors but as directors.
Senior nursing student Maren Taylor created her own play. Through her performance, “Something That Isn’t Mine,” Taylor was able to display her devotion both to directing and to nursing.
The 10-minute plays created a unique experience for students to show off their talents within a short time frame. However, there is a significant difference between the 10-minute plays and traditional productions.
“With there being so many styles of shows and types of parts, you get to just give people different opportunities that they might’ve never gotten before,” Taylor said. “People tend to get stuck and type casted in roles and I felt like as we were casting this we slowly were discovering that people that we never would have expected to come in just surprised us, and we got to cast them in so many different big roles because we had so many different big roles to play.”
Union student actor Deshaundon Jeanes also shared his perspective on how the 10-minute plays highlight talent differently than traditional productions.
“Since it is 10 minutes long, you have less time to showcase all that you can do, which means that you have to act more or act more dramatically,” Jeanes said. “I think it is really good for people that are just starting out, because it is throwing them into the deep end.”
There was a strong turn out. The showcase sold out and required additional seating.
The 10-minute plays have shed new light on theater and opened more opportunities for students.
Jeanes encouraged others to participate, saying, “If you’re new to acting,10-minute plays!”
Taylor added to the encouragement. “I think it just gives people an opportunity for a low commitment, but a chance to shine in a way that they have not gotten to before.“
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