There were many laughs as well as serious moments of anticipation during the annual Sacramento State Student Directed One Acts.

 

Four different theatre majors directed three short one-act shows including an original piece.

 

The Sac State club, Dramatist Society, produces the event every spring by helping publicize and fund the acts. .

 

Representing theatre and dance students, the Dramatist Society encourages student participation and creativity by hosting many productions, events and activities.

 

“We’re in charge of building our own sets, creating our own costumes and everything else,” said President of Dramatist Society Megan Aldrich. “It’s a valuable experience to be able to do all this as it prepares us for the real world in this industry.”

 

Aldrich, in charge of overseeing this year’s One Acts, said she enjoyed seeing student-produced work presented to the local community.

 

The club purchased all the show’s royalties and provided an additional $100 budget for each director.

 

“Secret Origin,” an original play written and directed by theatre major Jake Brooks, centered on comic books, a traumatic past and interwoven parallel realities.

 

“The one thing about directing your own work is that you can change anything you want when you can,” Brooks said. “When it is someone else’s work, the script is sacred so you have to stick to it.”

 

However, Brooks said there are downsides to directing his own play.

 

Brooks’ inspiration came from the story of famous Hollywood writer and director Sylvester Stallone who wrote “Rocky” and only allowed it to be made if he played the part.

 

“When it’s something you wrote, you can second guess yourself and have doubts,” Brooks said. “But everything came together and I was pleased with the plays results.”

 

Theatre and math major Brody Jack Jennings played a character named Shane in Brooks’ “Secret Origin,” an inspiring comic book writer who is the concealed son of the city’s mayor.

 

Jennings said he felt rewarded and satisfied with the overall performance of the play.

 

“It’s a great process and experience for all of us,” Jennings said. “We all worked for so long and put in a lot of effort.”

 

Even though actors and actresses are mostly given attention, it is the unseen crew that operates the behind stage tasks to allow the play to run smoothly.

 

Theatre major and stage manager Jordan Powell is  in charge of the prompt book and blocking of the show.

 

In theatre, blocking is the precise movement and positioning of actors on stage in order for the play to flow in sequence properly.

 

“The prompt book contains all the blocking, lighting and sound cues of the play,” Powell said. “During the show, I’m in charge of the lighting and sound board during the play.”

 

Senior theatre majors Taylor Vaughan and Zipporah Wilson are a part of the stage crew and  do many of the backstage jobs.

 

“The crew is what makes the show go on and we hold it together,” Vaughan said.

 

The crew takes care of changing the set, changing the actors and actresses costumes and prepping the show.

 

“We are the ones with them backstage helping them with all the little things that need to be done in order for the show to run smoothly,” Wilson said.

 

Although the stage crew touches every aspect of the show and may not be recognized, some of them believe putting the show together is enough recognition.

 

“I feel like we’re represented up there because we helped make what was out there,” Vaughan said. “We contributed to the story, which was the production.”

The student-directed One Acts will continue for a second week showcasing its final play “It’s All Right,” May 6-10 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 8 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 p.m on Saturday.