The One Acts, an annual show at Hastings High School, promises to be an exciting event for actors, directors, and audience members alike. The One Acts, a show run completely by students, is headed by General Directors Jacquelen Dale, a sophomore, and Isaac Volpe, a junior, Technical Director and Stage Manager Sylvie Black, a senior, and Junior Technical Director Olive Friederich, a junior. To better understand what makes the One Acts so magical for everyone involved, I spoke to Sylvie Black about the process, her role, and what makes the One Acts so special.
Sylvie shares that the One Acts are different from normal plays and musicals that happen at HHS. The One Acts is a collection of skits that are created or picked out and directed by students. Usually, there are nine to eleven skits in the production, often about five to ten minutes each. The skits vary in content, but often come from Saturday Night Live. Another difference is that there are no cuts, meaning everyone who auditions gets a role in the show. This is why the One Acts is a great place for underclassmen or new actors to get an idea of what an HHS show is like without having to worry about getting cut in some of the more competitive shows. Lastly, all of the money generated by the One Acts is donated to a charity; last year, that cause was the fires in LA.
The student leaders are very important in making the show happen. Sylvie serves as the Technical Director and Stage Manager, two tasks that she has done for many years. As Stage Manager, she makes all the calls during the show, telling each tech person what to do and when. This is a vital job, and coupled with her role as Technical Director, where she runs the tech crew, she is responsible for making sure all the technical aspects of the show happen smoothly. Olive is the Junior Technical Director, meaning she shadows Sylvie and helps with tech operations. The General Directors, Isaac Volpe and Jacquelen Dale, have similar responsibilities to the directors of other shows at HHS. They coordinate with the actors and directors of skits to organize rehearsals and solve any interpersonal issues that may arise.
There are several steps that lead up to the creation of this show. The first step starts in the summer, when the student leaders meet with Mrs. Udice, where they plan out dates for the show and important steps in the process. Then the student leaders meet in the fall to plan the interest meeting, and Sylvie creates the sign-up forms and the production calendar. Then comes the interest meeting itself, where potential participants receive information about the production. After the interest meeting, there are three rounds of directors’ meetings, in which directors learn about how to pick an appropriate skit, direct in an effective way, and handle any issues that come up in their skits. Next comes auditions, followed by casting. Each person usually is in two to three skits, although upperclassmen often receive larger roles due to seniority. Afterwards, rehearsals start and continue for roughly six weeks before final tech week, when all the details get ironed out and the final dress rehearsal happens. Before tech week, directors meet with the different divisions of tech (props, deck sound, lighting, costumes, etc.) to communicate what choices they want for their skit. On the Thursday and Friday of tech week—this year February 5th and 6th—the show happens.
Sylvie said that for her personally, the One Acts has a special place in her heart because not only was it the second production she ever stage-managed, but it really cultivates a sense of community for everyone involved: “It creates a space for everyone to be proud of the work they’ve contributed… everyone feels included and like their voice matters.” In general, the One Acts is an inclusive opportunity for students to both participate in and view.
