The Citrus Theatre Arts Department is putting on “Emerging American Voices”, an event for performing arts students to showcase their original work.
Rather than putting on a more technology driven show based on lights, design and production, “Emerging American Voices” is focused on the content of the work for students to gain insight from the audience.
Director and Screenwriting Professor Cherie Brown said, in an email, the audience stays after the show to offer feedback for the student’s work.
“These discussions have been real eye openers for the students, and not only the writers,” Brown said. “For the actors and directors as well.”
Brown said the Stage and Screenwriting classes are offered in the Spring and the best student work is picked to be performed the following fall semester. .
“It is from there that the top three to five entries are chosen for our production the following fall. Students work on their material over the summer as well and are in communication with faculty,” Brown said.
For 21-year-old Shane Delfin, theatre arts major, this is his second time doing “Emerging American Voices”.
“It’s definitely a learning process and it helps me narrow down what it means to be a screenwriter and understanding that process,” Delfin said.
In the fall semester he participated as an actor, but this time his screenplay “Graveyard” is being performed. Delfin took Professor Neil Weiss’ screenwriting class during the spring semester and now has been given the opportunity to see it performed.
Though Delfin’s work is written as a screenplay, for “Emerging American Voices” it is being performed as a play. He said it is about a guy, Ben, and his first graveyard shift working at a gas station. Delfin said the work is a mix of hyper-realism and horror.
“It’s really easy to get paranoid, it’s really easy to get anxious. You’re in this place by yourself so your thoughts can just go crazy,” Delfin said. “I took that idea and turned it up.”
“Emerging American Voices” strives to help students create and produce their own work.
“It takes years for major stars to get their work produced. If our students can get something of quality off the ground and running early, maybe something can happen sooner than later,” Brown said.
Henry Ding, 19, undecided, is starring in “Graveyard” as Ben. He is currently enrolled in Stage Acting and Camera Acting I. Ding said he thinks the Citrus Theatre Department has a lot of opportunity, but it’s not the most important thing.
“Training is important in acting but there’s not a set route to become an actor,” Ding said. “As far as what they’re doing it’s just providing opportunities.”
“Emerging American Voices” will be at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on Oct. 12 and 13. Tickets are $15 online, and for students and seniors, tickets are $10. Regardless of age, tickets are $20 at the door.
For more information, visit www.haughpac.com
