Adams Theatre Students Get Ready for a Sweet Production

Adams High School Theatre students have a treat in store for audience members on Friday night.

Not only will they be performing and directing a handful of one-act plays – many that were written by students – but they will be topping off the evening with dessert for guests.

has been going on for years at Adams, according to Adams Theatre Director . Dessert Theatre performances typically fall in the spring, but the theater group decided to move it up a bit this year.

How it works

“This is their opportunity to choose their own shows, to develop their skills as directors and get their feet wet doing the directing process,” Pillsbury said. “They have opportunity to kind of find something that will sing to them as individuals – they have a lot more ownership that way.”

Pillsbury noted this is a unique opportunity for students and something that really develops them creatively. In fact, she said that much of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the student directors, while Pillsbury overlooks the progress and is available to give advice or to answer any questions.

The student directors have the job of making sure the lighting is adequate, the sound for the show is taken care of and ensuring everyone has costumes. Though there is a costume shop on site, students are responsible for coming up with their own costumes if they couldn’t find the appropriate costume at the shop.

“It’s kind of theater at its best: Make due with what you’ve got and if you don’t have the right material find a creative way to solve the problem,” Pillsbury said.

Seeing the play unravel as a writer, director

Joey Urreta, a sophomore at Adams, is excited to watch his cast perform the show he wrote entitled The Phantom of Adams High School. Along with writing the piece, Urreta was given the opportunity to direct. Last year, Urreta co-directed with a senior; this year he is solo.

“It’s more difficult than writing,” Urreta said of directing. “It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun at the same time.”

His play is a combined spoof of Phantom of the Opera and . He thinks audience members, other students especially, will be able to relate to his production.

“Even though this is my second year writing a play for this I still really think it’s cool to have something go from an idea in your head to people actually performing it,” Urreta said.

Pillsbury expects the plays to last 20-25 minutes each. The majority of the performances are comedies, however there is a drama thrown into the mix as well. The plays are appropriate for middle school-aged students and up, she said.

“There’s a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor,” Pillsbury explained.

Entrance to Dessert Theatre, which takes place at 7 p.m. Friday in Auditorium, is free, although donations are greatly appreciated. Any donations received will go toward the theater group’s visit to the Mid Michigan Theatre Arts Festival.