For five years running, McLean actors, playwrights and tech crews have come together to impress audiences with original one-acts in Sketchfest. This unique presentation provides students with opportunities to participate in a production in new ways.
Sketchfest will showcase twelve plays that were selected from a submission pool of approximately 20 drafts. These drafts were written by McLean students hoping to become directors of their own plays. Those who had their plays chosen then went on to cast, block, costume, direct and recreate their writing on the stage.
“We look for a good mix of comedy and drama, […] something that had conflict and resolution, [and] really good storytelling techniques,” theater director Amy Poe said.
Plays with larger casts are preferred to give everyone a way to participate, since all the students that audition for Sketchfest get cast in at least one role.
Freshman Kylie Coffey is one of the directors. Her play is called Danny or Daniel?.
“The best part of it is getting to be in the director’s role,” Coffey said. “We’re used to just acting and singing and dancing and it’s awesome to be in the position to tell people what to say and how to do it.”
One of the biggest challenges the students are facing in preparing their plays is the short time they have to make the production come together. Directors have to schedule rehearsals to fit many people’s schedules and only have one month to perfect their performance.
“You come to appreciate what your directors do for you,” Coffey said. “You realize how hard their job is, and you’re amazed at how good they are at it.”
Poe is most impressed by the students’ dedication to theater and to their productions.
“They rehearse on their own–nobody’s making them rehearse. They show up and they find their own props and they make their own set pieces and costumes,” Poe said. “Their dedication to making sure that… their play is quality is really impressive to me.”
The students’ efforts will pay off on May 30th when the one-acts will be shown.
“I’m looking forward to seeing my own show, my own play, on stage. It’s a new experience,” Coffey said.
The one-acts will be performed on May 30th at 7pm. Coffey and Poe urge students to go and see the productions.
“Come see Sketchfest on May 30th,” Poe said. “It’s really fun and it’s cheap and you get to see a lot of great acting from the McLean High School Theater Company!”
