On Thursday, Sept. 21, Free State Theatre held their annual Black Box Theatre & Film Festival. Black Box Theatre is a showcase of student written and directed one-acts or short films. Students who attended the show said they enjoyed seeing their fellow students perform.
“It’s cool because it gives people a platform to share their interests,” sophomore Lucas Smith said.
Senior Cella Allison said Black Box Theatre provides a unique experience that students wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. It’s one of the few opportunities where students get to take the lead on a theatre production of their own. They also get the chance to work in a space with people with similar interests and make friends.
“It’s tricky to find an opportunity to present a script you’ve written, so Black Box Theatre Festival is a great space for that, plus it allows students to work with people they might not usually [work with] in a different environment,” Allison said.
The show consisted of five performances. Freshman Emmet Henry said he is confident in how his performance turned out.
“I loved seeing everyone else’s performances and Heat Wave turned out well. We had a lovely audience and it was so much fun,” Henry said.
The students put in many hours and had some bumps along the road, but Allison said she is satisfied with how the shows turned out. After the success of the 2023 show, students can look ahead for what’s next in store next fall.
“The idea is definitely the hardest part, but once you get the ball rolling, it’s a bunch of fun,” Allison said.
