Comedy, Drama & Tragedy - Emerging Director One-Acts

The York College Theatre Department will present its annual Emerging Director One-Act plays Friday and Saturday, November 12 and 13, starting at 7:30 PM. The plays will be directed by students and will take place in the Scene Shop Theatre in Gurganus Hall.

The first show of the night, directed by senior Samara Hannel, is The Darkest Hour, a drama telling the story of a man on death row within four hours of execution. He has been found guilty on circumstantial evidence. He is innocent but has no way of proving it, as appearances have been too strongly against him. ​​

“Directing this show was challenging because I had to find a way to show all of the ways someone can be sad,” Hannel. “It’s made me a better director for several reasons but I feel as though I have also grown so much as a person throughout the entire experience.” The cast of The Darkest Hour includes Dalton Brandt, Samantha Crump, Luke Dovel, Grace Gaer, and Kyla Gilstrap. Ashlee Jimmerson assistant directs. 

The second show to be performed will be Blind Date, directed by junior Jason “Eli” Embray, and assistant directed by Leah Lane. In this romantic comedy, Marcia reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date with Ted. She realizes how literal the term blind date can be when Ted arrives and drops his walking stick. 

"I chose this play because it seemed genuinely fun," said Embray of the play. "A comedy should obviously be funny, but they aren’t always fun." 

​"It has been challenging to work so closely with only 2 actors rather than a larger cast," Embray shared regarding the experience.  "It is easier to be more specific and critical, but I generally have a hard time giving criticism, so I have been forced to work on that. It has been a really good experience!”  The cast of Blind Date includes Julie Tremaine and Tate Straatmann.

The last show of the evening will be The 146 Point Flame, directed by senior Christopher Martens, assistant directed by Sadie Carr and choreographed by Em Hyberger. The tragedy tells the story of four women who immigrated to America in the early 1900s in pursuit of the American Dream. They are all employed at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory when a tragic fire breaks out on March 25, 1911. They share stories of their past and the moments they cherish the most as their lives are lost to the flames. 

“I chose this show because it has a powerful message,” Martens said. “ The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a tragedy, but it led to many changes in workplace regulations. The play also shares the history of women’s struggles to pursue the American Dream.” 

“This show has made me a better director because it’s forced me to stretch my knowledge of theatre and try new things as a director,” shared Martens of the experience. “I’ve never worked with choreography or dancing before, so that experience alone has helped me understand that process better.”

The cast of The 146 Point Flame includes Em L. Hyberger, Kinzie Norton, Carys Pitman, Bekah Powell, Makayla Rowan, Alyssa Shaw, and Ian Wallgren.

The evening of one-acts is open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required.

Gurganus Hall is located at 938 Kiplinger Ave.