Northwest Missouri State University’s 2024-25 season of theatre continues Feb. 13-15 with “A Spring Evening of One-Acts,” featuring two student-directed plays, each consisting of minimal characters and a runtime of 10 to 15 minutes.
The performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box theater, located on the lower level of the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts on the Northwest campus.
Tickets are $6 and may be purchased online, at www.nwmissouri.edu/finearts/theatre/ or at the box office one hour prior to showtime.
“Lures,” written by Jeanette D. Farr and directed by Northwest student Chloe Petersen, depicts a conversation between two strangers with ulterior motives. The audience learns the characters are not who they appear to be and instead harbor feelings of vengeance and retribution. It is how they react to those things that helps them move on and carry lessons forward.
“Ashes to Ashes,” written by Emily McClain and directed by Northwest student Paige Waddingham, is about letting go and releasing past traumas, thus bringing people closure and peace. The play explores what happens when people truly forgive those who have done harm.
“This show is about family relationship dynamics and a constant human experience that we all can relate to,” Paige Waddingham, a junior speech and theatre education major from Creston, Iowa, said. “While the show has some dark or negative themes, everyone can relate and get some form of closure from this show. My main goal with this show is to communicate what can happen when we heal our wounds.”
Petersen says both plays draw on human elements.
“Both Paige and I have shows that relate to the darker, more taboo topics around the human condition and how to overcome them,” Chloe Petersen, a junior theatre tech and design major from Blue Springs, Missouri, said. “I also think it’s important for audience members to see these types of stories represented, since they are seldom talked about or brought to life.”
Producing one-act plays is a component of Theatre Northwest’s Lab Series, which features productions directed, acted, designed and stage-managed by students. Participation in the series is required for speech and theatre education majors.
Theatre Northwest’s spring schedule continues with “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” Feb. 21-22 and “God of Carnage” March 28-29. The theatre season concludes with “Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical” April 10-13.