Actors wait in the green room in near-complete darkness as people begin to shuffle in and take their seats in the Black Box Theatre. The four separate casts wait for the first play to go on, hiding behind the curtain that separates them from the audience.
This year is the fourth biennial production of Student Written One Act Plays (SWIX), a chance for students of any grade to write a play to be performed by underclassmen. One play, written by Ruby Kirkland, junior, is called A Haunting Date.
“I knew I wanted some kind of commentary, and two very opposing characters,” Kirkland said. “It’s about two people, who are not at all compatible with each other, go on a date. And on the sidelines, they see ghosts.”
SWIX is directed by Kristi Gunther, and features four plays written by students. The scripts were chosen by Kelly Schnider, drama teacher, and Gunther. This year, scripts were submitted by November, and the chosen scripts were released a few weeks later.
You’re involved in the story, [because] you’re the first actor to play these characters.
— Alex Gow
“It gives an opportunity for freshmen and sophomores to have bigger roles,” Alex Gow, freshman, said. “[SWIX is] a lot more intimate because you can go to the [playwrite] and ask questions. You’re involved in the story, [because] you’re the first actor to play these characters.”
The writers of the play were also involved in the audition process, and were invited to all of the rehearsals. Stevie Schukar, junior and writer of Boy Scouts, said he wanted to be accessible for the actors.
“Ryan Zickel [KHS 2022 graduate] wrote the play I [acted] in freshman year,” Schukar said. “He said it was cool to see how the play was different then how he had written it. I’m excited to see how my play will be different [from] what I imagined.”
Schukar’s play is about two boy scouts who drifted apart over the years, and when one fails to show up to the other’s scout leader initiation, the troop goes on a journey to find out why he left. Similarly to Schukar, Kirkland said she looked up to the juniors and seniors her freshman year.
“I remember being in SWIX my freshman year and seeing all of my junior and senior friends writing for it,” Kirkland said. “I [thought] that [it was] such a cool process and such a fun thing to do. You get to be a part of [the show] and make a show for other people to be involved in. I thought that was awesome.”
Every other year, a published play is chosen for the Freshmore (freshman and sophomore) play, and last year it was The Recesses by Jared Goudsmit, KHS 2019 graduate. The Recesses was about an underground soda and candy ring, reported on by a corrupt journalist, that took place during recess.
“I got slight inspiration [from] The Recesses,” Schukar said. “The opening scene when they tied down [someone in a chair.] That aggressive theme.”
Both Schukar and Kirkland have taken drama classes during their time at KHS. Schukar said while taking Drama I, II and Advanced Drama, he read and wrote many scripts that helped him format his own.
Previously having been in comedies and working [and] analyzing comedies helped [me write my play].
— Ruby Kirkland
“[Drama class helped me know] what’s reasonable [when it comes to] speaking and acting,” Kirkland said. “I knew I wanted to write a comedy. Previously having been in comedies and working [and] analyzing comedies helped [me write my play].”
Schukar said his interest in theater didn’t start in Drama class, but in his involvement in the extracurricular drama department. Gow, whose first introduction to theater was through his seventh grade musical, said he enjoys the KH Players because of the people he met during the mainstage show, The Visit.
“I think [the people have] been the best part of it so far,” Gow said. “You work with these people for so long and get really close connections.”
