For the last two years, the MSHS Theatre department has put on a musical and a play, but it wasn’t always like this. The department used to include a One-Act play, which would be taken to competition; and after two years, the One-Act is back!
This year, director Wendy Harms is tagging in Ryan Reed, a theatre director in District 11, to take over the role of director for this upcoming year’s One-Act competition. “Last year, it was so wonderful collaborating with Wendy, and I think that before last year’s experience, I would have been very intimidated because I’ve always looked up to Ms. Harms and the work that she does,” Reed said.
Although the One-Act has a new director, Reed is not an unfamiliar face to the department as he co-directed last year’s spring play, “The Fine Art of Fakery” in parallel with Harms. “After working with her and the students last year, I felt such a welcoming vibe from everyone that I just was very excited to come back and work with Manitou again,” Reed said.
From his experience working with the actors of MSHS and being the father of an MSHS student, Reed feels right at home in the new working environment. “I feel welcomed, and I know that we’ve got a good working relationship. I consider Wendy a friend, and I’m fairly confident because of that, because of the groundwork she’s put down with the actors and with the program.”
Harms has high hopes for the production and Reed’s abilities as a director. “We went to the One-Act competition several years in a row, and we had people winning things. That all depends on what people’s personal goals are about the One-Act,” Harms said. “Looking at Mr. Reed doing it, you guys are going to have a great experience working with a new director and creating another piece of theater.”
Kaitlyn Norfleet (12), a cast member of “Too Many Daughters,” the last One-Act play put on by MSHS, is just as excited at the new opportunity for her senior year and for those new to theatre. “Oh, my God, I’m so excited. It was certainly an experience, not in a bad way, but in a very good way, where I felt more connected with my older peers and my other peers as well,” Norfleet said. “I think that doing One-Act competitions is really awesome and really a great experience.”
The last two One-Acts entered by MSHS won 1st place. Students and staff alike are excited to see the revival of the One-Act. Audition information has been posted in front of the theatre lab and auditions will take place on December 1.
