Salisbury High School’s Theatre Department will perform a One Act Festival, which will include short scenes both directed and acted by Salisbury students. Two of the scenes are also written by students.

The festival replaces the fall production which was canceled. Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 13 through 15 and 3 p.m. Dec. 16.

“Salisbury’s faculty, staff, community, and most importantly, its student body faced a very tragic event this past October,” Director Will Erwin said. “In the wake of mourning, Salisbury Theatre was left shaken. We lost one of our own and many didn’t know what to do. Our normally productive rehearsals turned into an excuse to simply be together. To laugh. To cry. To figure out how to move on.

“After a week or so of grieving, I decided we needed to reboot,” Erwin said. “I suggested we cancel the play we had been rehearsing and do something completely different. Theater, for me, has always been helpful. When I am down or sad, lost or alone, I’ve found that creating art has always been helpful. I realized these students needed to use art and theater in the same way.

So with this reboot, students were given control. Students volunteered to be directors, designers and actors. Two students decided to write pieces to direct. The students broke into mini production groups and worked autonomously to produce this one act festival.”

The short scenes include “Uberman,” “Actor’s Dilemna,” “Lana and Rod,” “Lunch and Dinner,” “His Luck,” “The Answer” and “Sorry Shakespeare.”

Members of the cast include Abbey Correll, Abigail Gross, Angela Harrison, Brogan Shay, Deziree Correa, Emily Lamana, Ethan Cudd, Felicity Koch, Jarell Rios, Kaitlyn Macauley, Kayla Trenge, Kyleigh Vicosa, Laura Talaber, Margaret Carl, Michael Judge, Michael Tiao, Nayeli Mendez, Ryann Thomson, Sara Lamana and William Perkins.

Members of the crew include Cheyanne Twinings, Shayna Trinidad, Shane Donaldson, Arianna Tavarez, Nicole Reyes, Jessica Nguyen, Rory Watson, Logan Woods, Kieran Connelly, Kaitlyn Zong, Ashley Hirst, Abby Lipkin and Maggie Helsel.

Talking about her experience as a director, Kyleigh Vicoso said “It was really cool; I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“I enjoyed it a lot,” Angela Harrison said about directing. “It was super great getting to see your work come together. It is cool to see a project in your head come to life.”

“I had to act so differently since the last production,” Jarell Rios said. “My character is completely different than me. It was fun. I learned how to act like I was sad and confused. It was a learning curve.”

Kayla Trenge said stage managers Logan Woods and Rory Watson were very helpful with the production.

The students said this production is a one-of-a-kind show where performers had the opportunity to do something they have never done before. There is something for everyone.

“I am very proud of the students in directing the scenes and that they were able to learn from example and observation over the last couple of years,” Erwin said.

It should be noted all scenes are appropriate for high school students; however, some themes may not be suitable for small children.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance via email at salisburytheatre@salisburysd.org.