The theatre is a collaborative form of art that often uses live performers to present a stimulating, innovative, and witty experience for the audience. For those theatergoers’ seeking a fun-filled event, Moorpark College students will be showcasing their very own “Student One Acts.”

“Student One Acts” are monologues or plays written, directed and performed by and for students at the college. The acts, held in the smaller Black Box Theatre of the Performing Arts building, will be performed on April 27 to the 30 and May 4 to the 7 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a free matinee at 1:30 p.m. on April 27 and May 4.

The purpose of this performance is to give students more experience in collaborating and working together creatively, said theatre arts professor Suzanne Fagan.

“They get to see what it is like to be involved in a production from the inception of the idea to performance,” said Fagan. “They get to work with student writers, student assistant directors, student directors, student actors, student costumers, student lighting and audio designers, and put on a production that is really for and by the students.”

Some students have been prevalent members of the “One Acts” and many like Nicole St. Pierre, 24-year-old acting major, have gone on from being performers to directors. This year, St. Pierre is a director for the play “Love Wars,” which is mainly a comedy about love.

“This is my first time directing a ‘One Act,'” said St. Pierre. “I was an actor in a ‘One Act’ last semester. I had a lead role and that was a fun experience.”

For St. Pierre, her favorite thing about the “One Acts” is that it is really collaborative and all the students are working together on a show for most of the semester.

Fagan said there will be five 10 to 20 minute “One Acts” and the playwrights are Catie Sayeg, Hovig Chobanian, Stefan James, Rosalinda Luctero and Tegan Morley.

Much like St. Pierre’s experience from acting to directing, Nick Moreno, 22-year-old English major, has gotten the experience of being a director for another one of the acts. Last semester, Moreno was not only a writer, but also had the opportunity to be assistant director.

“Being a director comes as new experience when you have twelve people you have to work with,” said Moreno. “There always comes a point where it becomes difficult or stressful, but things always seem to come-out on top.”

Another aspect that goes into the process of “One Acts” is that it all comes down to the playwrights. For Hovig Chobanian, 23-year-old biology major, this was his first semester where his play was chosen.

Like many students who have written “One Acts,” Chobanian has been inspired by attending a performance from another semester.

“I was in an acting class two semesters ago and my professor brought us to see the ‘One Acts,'” said Chobanian. “That was when I saw it and decided that I wanted to be a part of it.”

The cool thing about these “One Acts” is in the variety, for some there is giddiness, love and light whereas, much like Chobanian’s play, there can be darkness.

“It is pretty dark,” said Chobanian. “It follows the main character who goes through and has been going through series of unfortunate events and how it effects him and how he is going to live on with those burdens.”

Moorpark College is the only community college that has student-written “One Acts.” Also, the fact that any student, not just theatre majors, are free to submit plays and are strongly encouraged makes it unique, said Fagan.

All five “Student One Acts” will be performed every night and generally sells out. You can purchase your tickets for $10 at the door or get 20 percent off if purchased online.

So come support these young, talented and local artists of Moorpark College and who knows? You may even be inspired to act, write, or direct a “Student One Act” for next semester!