Student directors bring diverse stories to stage at play festival

The Mercyhurst Theatre program invites you to experience a collection of compelling stories at its semi-annual student-directed 10-minute play festival running May 3-4 in Taylor Little Theatre. This diverse showcase features five thought-provoking short plays, each brought to life by talented student directors. 
 
In "Sugar" by Jennifer O’Grady, directed by Abby Craig, Lilia’s quiet evening is interrupted when her new neighbor, Jaden, knocks on her door to borrow sugar. However, Jaden’s visit carries an urgent secret—one that has nothing to do with the sugar and everything to do with Lilia. 
 
"The Most Precious Thing" by Amy Dellagiarino, directed by Ali Forsythe, follows Jaqueline, a woman burdened by the weight of life’s regrets. As time runs out, she is forced to confront her choices and assess the true value of her existence. 
 
In "A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners" by Ken Preuss, directed by Nicole French, a grieving student and a hired funeral singer meet outside a church, unexpectedly finding common ground as they share confessions and connect in surprising ways. 
 
"The Santa Thing" by Greg Lam, directed by Michael Harper, follows Taylor as she eagerly anticipates introducing her girlfriend to her family for Christmas. But before the festive fun begins, there’s one crucial topic they must discuss: the Santa thing. 
 
In "Choices" by James McLindon, directed by Kat Kanazin, a financially strapped student grapples with crushing debt. When a mysterious opportunity to escape his troubles arises, he’s left wondering: is the deal too good to be true? 
 
Under the guidance of Theatre Program Director Dr. Brett D. Johnson, the student directors are responsible for every facet of the festival, from selecting the plays and casting the actors to coaching performances and integrating technical elements.  
 
“The student-directed festival serves as a capstone project for our theatre minors,” says Johnson. “It requires them to not only apply their knowledge of acting, script analysis, theatre history, dramatic literature, and technical theatre but also to step into leadership roles. As directors, they guide the creative vision, motivate their teams, make critical decisions, and ensure the cohesive execution of all aspects of the production from rehearsal to performance.” 
 
The festival features 10 talented Mercyhurst students: Noah Beiter (Prospective Client, "Choices"), Tori Brown (Jacqueline, "The Most Precious Thing"), Maya Dildine (Taylor, "The Santa Thing"), Maddy Grieco (Lilia, "Sugar"), Stella Hambaryan (Charlie, "The Most Precious Thing"), Johnathon Morvay (Debt Counselor, "Choices"), Sophia Sidorowicz (Jaden, "Sugar"), Zack Yeager (Alex, "A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners"), Hannah Yonkers (Alyssa, "The Santa Thing"), and Muriel Zollinger (Ellie, "A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners"). 
 
The festival’s creative team includes lighting designer Madeleine Steineck and festival stage manager Shane Dexter. 
 
The performances will take place on Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre on the Mercyhurst campus. The festival is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Seating is general admission, and doors will open 30 minutes prior to each performance. 
 
For more information, visit miac.mercyhurst.edu.