Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program (TAP) kicked off its
first round of Theatrefest, from Oct. 12-14 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 3 p.m.
in the Little Theatre. TAP united to host the yearly celebration of short, student-run productions in the hope that some will have the opportunity to be professionally staged.
Senior Stephanie Patella holds the position of New Works Chair for TAP. In this position, Patella introduced every student-run play and helped to close them off with a Q&A between the writers, directors and audience.
“It’s a grant requirement for people in the TAP program. After a specific show has their reading, they have a talkback where the audience or people from the program can ask questions for the writer or director,” said Patella. “Round one is the play reading. Now that actors have been cast into the shows, they have the binders with their scripts, and they read out loud.”
TheatreFest consists of three rounds. The first round consisted of student actors reading off their scripts in order for the playwrights to get an idea of how their production will be performed. The second round, occurring in November, will act as the black box production where student actors will once again perform their plays, but with no script and a minimal set. The third round, happening in late spring, will consist of a narrowed down two final shows that will be fully produced with lights, sound, props, and costumes.
Senior and student playwright Kayla Goncalves said, “The most fun part is taking a step back and realizing that this is my own work, and I can do whatever I want to it.”
With the whole production being student-driven, members of the TAP program are free to write about whatever they feel, in hopes that it will be fully produced.
“It’s really fun, it’s difficult at times for sure. I suffer from writer’s block pretty often, but when I’m not suffering from writer’s block it’s just so fun because you realize that there really are no limits to what you can write,” said Goncalves. “You don’t need to hold yourself back really for any reason, there’s nothing stopping you from changing the plot or changing the character.”
For the first round, Goncalves wrote a play, “Don’t Forget To Visit.” It consisted
of a younger couple and their older relatives looking out for them beyond the grave. Her play, which revolved around a very sensitive topic, managed to move some audience members to tears. Four actors performed the play reading, one of them being sophomore Sami Millerick.
Millerick, who played Michelle, said, “It’s a fun character to play in the sense that she still has this positive energy even though she’s talking about things that hurt her.”
The actors, while sitting on stage and reading their scripts off of music stands, still had to perform with emotion in order
for the writer, as well as the audience, to gain a sneak peek into what the play could potentially be like if fully produced.
“Round one helps the writers hear out loud how their story is being told by these actors,” said Millerick. “It’s just as much of a show even though it doesn’t have blocking, costumes and makeup.”
For more information on dates and ticketing for TheatreFest, visit edgertoncenter.org.
