On April 27 at 7 p.m., the drama department will come together to showcase the hard work and skills they have learned to the broader community in the One Act Festival. A combination of all grades, the One Act Festival allows seniors to step into a leadership role as they direct groups of underclassmen drama students in a “One Act.” Fully produced and directed by students, the festival offers the opportunity for learning and development. 

Senior and One Act director Alissa Wallace has been participating in drama for all four years of his high school career and has been a very active member of the community. Starring in Rocky Horror and many other school musicals, Wallace knows his way around the stage. Now, for the first time, Wallace learned how to step off stage and direct within his Honors Stage Directing class. Wallace shared his perspective on the purpose of the festival.

“In some ways, it’s like an end-of-unit test. It’s finally time to utilize the [skills] that we’ve learned and show them to an audience. It’s a moment of pride,” Wallace said. 

Freshman Alastair Berg is starring in the One Act “Between Two Friends” and plays the role of a troublemaker, trying to convince his friend to participate in digging up a dead body. Berg and his partner act out the ethical dilemma of how far you should go to prank someone. The two-month preparation for the one act has had a large impact on him as a performer. 

“It’s an exposition to show everyone you know what the drama class has been working on and it’s a chance to let the people participating in the Beginning Drama [class] get a feel for what performing is really like. It’s a great way to connect to [students] in the grades above and below you,” Berg said.

Berg is currently acting in the One Act entitled “Between Two Friends,” directed by Wallace. Wallace enjoyed witnessing new skills gained during the preparation for the one act and the opportunity for collaboration.

“My favorite part of the process was seeing how actors from completely different groups come together to create something as a collective,” Wallace said. “Freshmen are initially very hesitant because they don’t want to seem lame in front of their peers, but once they break down that barrier, they actually try and realize that it is actually more lame to not try in a performance.” 

The One Act Festival is filled with passion and engagement, allowing the audience to laugh and interact with the multiple scenes. Underclassmen battled their nerves about performing as upperclassmen were able to see their hard work come to fruition. Berg highlighted the nature of Redwood’s drama program, comparing it to the competitive nature of programs within other schools.

“[The drama program] is a tight-knit group. You end up knowing everyone and they become your friends. It’s such a friendly environment. There’s no competition,” Berg said.

The One Act Festival is filled with support from students, friends and parents alike. The audience engages with every scene, laughing and encouraging the freshman on stage. This festival is an amazing opportunity to witness the tight-knit drama community within Redwood and their months of hard work. The One Act Festival is a reminder to all that hard work pays off, as well as how support can positively impact young actors embarking on their Redwood drama careers.