Community Corner

Students Write, Direct and Perform 5 One Act Plays

The one act festival at Royal Oak High School is free to the public.

The Royal Oak High School Drama Club will be hosting it's first ever student run one act festival this spring Friday April 19, outdoors in the courtyard of Royal Oak High School.  Admission is Free.  The Public is invited.

All five of the One Act Plays are student directed and students actually wrote three of the five plays. The entire festival is student run and produced by members of the ROHS Drama Club.  Students pitched their ideas for one act plays and skits, which ranged in time from 5 to 20 minutes, to the club officers who chose the final skits that would be performed on April 19th.

"It definitely was a tough choice. Each piece submitted brought a different idea to the table", Ellen Stachowicz, club secretary and senior at ROHS, said about the selection process. "Narrowing down what made the cut for the show was difficult because each piece represented the student who wrote or wanted to direct it.  Everyone is so enthusiastic and dedicated to the club, and that's what we're all about. In the end, the pieces selected have great potential and hopefully can help attract new club members as well as entertain."

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This will also be the drama club's first experience with outdoor theater. The school's principal, Jim Moll (an esteemed actor himself), suggested the idea of having the festival outside once the weather cleared up and the club loved the idea. The ROHS Drama Club has received plenty of adult help and coaching from Moll and their teacher sponsor Teresa Brewer-Rollins, their parent-run Booster society, Ed Nahhat of the Water Works Theater Company, and Frannie Sheppard-Bates of the Magenta Giraffe theater in Detroit who visits the school at least twice a week to watch the one act skits and assist when needed. Both Nahhat and Sheppard-Bates directed for the drama club's fall musical The Pirates of Penzance and spring play Stage Door.

The five One Act Plays to be performed include:

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  • I Didn't Meme To: Written and Directed by Max Sanders
  • Open to Interpretation: Written by Ken Bradbury.  Directed by Madison Ozdych
  • Costumes Rumpus: Written and Directed by Ellen Stachowicz.
  • Netherblight Night: Written and Directed by Jack Bennett
  • Romeo and Juliet: Written by Frannie Sheppard Bates.  Co-Directed by Hannah Weilgat and Bobby Dartony

The one act festival is all about student involvement. Not only will there will be many students acting in front of the audience, but also working behind the scenes selling concessions, making programs, advertising, emceeing, and organizing the event with the school staff.  The festival will wrap up the club's season of performances, and will hopefully start a new tradition for years to come.

Want to attend the festival?

  • When: Friday, April 19th at 4-5:15 p.m.
  • Where: Royal Oak High School Main Courtyard, 1700 Lexington Ave
  • Admission: Free

In case of April showers, the event will be moved indoors to the school's auditorium.


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