ESU’s Theater Department to Present One-Act Plays

Posted by: admin on November 8, 2014, No Comments

Stage II, the student theatre organization at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, will combine one-act plays and adaptations from other works—all featuring an element of otherworldliness—in Sinister Tales: One-Act Plays and Scenes, November 19-23.

The one-act plays to be featured include the premiere of Echo Chamber, a play written by ESU sophomore John Laurie, a computer science major from Long Pond, Pa.; and Hungry Jane, by Pennsylvania playwright David Steele of Slippery Rock, Pa.

Adapted pieces include selections from Rockaby by Samuel Beckett; Macbeth by William Shakespeare; and Dark of the Moon by Howard Richardson and William Berney.

Students are responsible for all aspects of the Stage II presentation, including play selection, directing, acting, and technical elements.

Curtain times for the performances are 8 p.m. November 19-21 and 2 p.m. November 22-23. All performances are in the Dale Snow Theatre on the ground floor of the university’s Fine and Performing Art Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

In Echo Chamber, Anne, a recently deceased woman, is waiting in “limbo”—a room—with a person named Lucy or Lucian who asks probing questions about Anne’s past life. Andrew Scoggin, a freshman theatre major from Ottsville, Pa., will direct the piece.

Hungry Jane tells the story of Shirley who calls in a ghost specialist to investigate the strange noises in her house. Two theatre majors, Christopher Robinson, a sophomore from Cape May, N.J. and Asia Burnett, a sophomore from Philadelphia, Pa., are co-directing the play.

The selection from Macbeth focuses on Lady Macbeth and her unease after the murder of the king, Duncan. Dontel Ducksworth, a junior from East Stroudsburg, majoring in musical theatre and acting for theatre, TV, and film, adapted and directed the piece.

Naomi Snyder, a senior from Reading, Pa. majoring in psychology and theatre, adapted and directed the selection from Rockaby, which features a woman sitting in a chair that starts and stops rocking without her assistance.

The folk ballad, Barbara Allen, as featured in Dark of the Moon, is the focus of the presentation directed and choreographed by Michael Lloret, a senior from East Stroudsburg majoring in musical theatre.

General admission is $12 for adults; $10 for senior citizens, faculty and staff with I.D.; $7 for ESU students with I.D.; and $5 for youth. These plays are recommended for older high school students and adults.

Tickets may be purchased online with a credit card at www.esu.edu/theatretickets. Because the Dale Snow Theatre has limited seating, advance purchase of tickets is suggested.

Remaining seats will be available at the box office beginning one hour before the performance. Only cash and checks are accepted at the box office.

For box office reservations or more information about the production, please email esuarts@esu.edu or call 570-422-3483, x.4.