Hesston College Sophomores to direct two one-act plays at Hesston College

Two graduating sophomores at Hesston College will each direct a one-act play during Commencement Weekend, which is this weekend. Presented by the Hesston College Theater Department, the production is titled “An Impromptu Murder: An Evening of One Acts.”

The first performance was Thursday. Performances continue at 7 p.m. today and 1 p.m. Saturday in Northlawn Room 109 on the college campus.

This is the first time Caleb Miller of Middlebury, Ind., and Bethany Miller of Freeman, S.D., have directed a play. The casts include Hesston College sophomores and freshmen.

Caleb Miller will direct “Sorry, Wrong Number!” by Lucille Fletcher, a play he described as “a psychological thriller. Throughout the play, the main character keeps trying to figure out a murder she learns about by accidentally calling the wrong phone number,” he said. “It becomes more and more tense and the pace picks up toward the climax.”

Caleb said he’s always been interested in directing.

“This is a good opportunity, so I decided to give it a shot,” he said. “When I first read the piece, I decided I wanted to build the tension quickly and interject subtle humor through looks or gestures by the nine cast members.”

“I’ve tended to be in smaller casts the past two years,” he said, “so this is a newer thing. To be in charge is a bit intimidating.”

But he’s excited about the experience.

“It’s coming along well ...,” he said.

Megan Tyner, director of theater at Hesston College, said she’s glad Caleb is pursuing this part of his theater career at the college.

“He brings humor and a different perspective to the script,” she said.

Caleb, a nursing student, plans to transfer to Goshen (Ind.) College in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“I also hope to pursue more theater options at Goshen,” he said.

The play Bethany Miller is directing is “Impromptu” by Tad Mosel.

“It’s a play about four people who are called to a theater to improvise a play,” she said. “There are some humorous moments, but it’s kind of deep.

“Previously at Hesston, I’ve been acting and performing,” Bethany said. “I wanted a different view of theater. There’s a lot more involved in directing than I ever thought as an actor.

“I had trouble getting into the play when I was just looking at the script,” she admitted. “Now that the cast is involved, I’m having so much more fun, and I’m having a blast with the four cast members.”

Bethany expects to spend a year of service with Mennonite Mission Network in Elkhart, Ind., after graduating from Hesston College.

“I’m excited that Bethany took this directing course,” Tyner said. “She fully dedicates herself to any project she chooses to take on, whether that be in the classroom, on the stage, or in her present role, in front of the stage.

“One of the things we emphasize in the directing course is the key role of the director,” Tyner said. “It’s imperative that the director create an atmosphere that is creative, fun, and establishes trust between the director and the cast. These two students have shown through their entire careers at Hesston that they have the ability to take on that challenge, and to do it at the highest level.

“It’s been a joy to work with these two sophomores on stage and in class,” Tyner said. “They truly exhibit the best qualities of the department.”

Tyner said this will be the third fully student-led production at Hesston College since she began as theatre director in fall 2004 and the second time it’s been done during Commencement Weekend.

“We continue to get strong student directors,” she said. “We’ve been really blessed.”

The total running time for the two one-act plays, including an intermission, is about 70 minutes.

Tickets are $5 for adults and students; children age 6 and younger are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Hesston College Bookstore in person, by calling (620) 327-8105 locally or toll-free at (866) 437-7866, extension 8105, or by going online at www.hesstonbooks.com.

Tickets, subject to availability, also may be purchased at the door one hour before show time.

For more information, contact the Hesston College Theatre Department at (620) 327-8141.