The theatre program’s One Acts showcase is coming up, and students are preparing to bring their plays to life. The annual event features short plays written, directed, and performed by students. Some are trying theatre for the first time, while others are returning to take on new challenges.

Sophomore Jenna Roman is one of those returning students. She has been in eight shows, including another drama showcase. This time, she plays Charlotte in The Button, written by Teresa Schnaider and co-directed by Schnaider and Max Halsey.

The button follows five strangers who find themselves trapped in a mysterious facility. As they struggle to understand why they are there and what is being asked of them, tensions rise, and each person must decide how far they are willing to go.

“I have played a lot of mean or male characters,” Roman said. “So it is nice to play someone different. From what I have seen, she seems emotional, which seems fun.”

For sophomore Andrea Aguirre Perez, One Acts is a whole new experience. She has been involved in theatre before, but this is her first time acting. She plays Vera in A 3-Step Guide to Summoning Ghosts, written and directed by JJ Basch.

A 3-Step Guide to Summoning Ghosts is a play about a group of friends attempting to summon a ghost for fun. When their ritual actually works, they come face-to-face with Pamela, a mischievous ghost who loves to cause trouble.

“I am looking forward to just doing the entire thing,” Aguirre said. “It has been almost a decade since I last acted,” she added.

One Acts is not just about acting or being on stage. Some students are taking on leadership roles behind the scenes. Freshman Evangeline Muñiz is the assistant director for Left to Live, written and directed by Eden Cho.

Left to Live follows Alina Asthenia, a young café owner balancing work, family struggles, and persistent headaches she refuses to take seriously. When Alina collapses at work, she is forced to confront a devastating diagnosis. As time runs out, Alina and those closest to her must decide how to make the most of the time they have left.

This is not Muñiz’s first theater experience; however, it is her first time working on the directing side of a production. “I have done a few productions in the past since I was 11, so this is my fourth. I am excited to get to know [Cho] better and make more friends along with the cast,” Muñiz said. She also hopes to bring a good atmosphere to rehearsals. “I think I am a good listener, and I try to keep things fun.”

While some students are going into acting or assistant directing for the first time, others are taking on even bigger challenges. Senior Antonio Vargas, who previously starred as Prince Topher in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, is now directing his very own play, SAUCE! 

“Directing for One Acts has been on my radar since I was a freshman,” Vargas said. “My sister went to Poway High, and she wrote and directed a play for her senior project. That inspired me.”

Vargas has performed in multiple productions, but this is his first time directing a full-scale show. “This is my directorial debut,” Vargas said. “I mean, I have directed small things before; YouTube videos, little skits, but nothing to this scale. It’s pretty crazy.”

His original play, SAUCE!, follows a young woman named Katie who dreams of a better job. When a life-changing opportunity comes her way, there’s just one problem; it’s the same day as her estranged sister’s wedding. “The conflict is, does she deal with lifelong ostracism from her family, or lifelong regret from within herself?” Vargas said.

For Vargas, the best part of this experience is seeing his vision come to life. “I’ve had all these ideas building up for months,” he said. “So having the freedom to leave nothing on the table and tell the story I want to see feels very personal, like it’s been a long time coming.”

Beyond the final performance, Vargas hopes to build something meaningful with his cast.

“I want to make my cast feel like a family,” Vargas said. “I want them to believe in the story they’re telling and hopefully make an impact on the audience. I hope it works!”

Performances of One Acts kick off in late April, and the cast and crew are set to make this year’s One Acts another memorable showcase.