Collaborative Theatre Project to Showcase Original Student Works

On Friday, March 6, West Henderson, Hendersonville, East Henderson, and North Henderson high schools’ advanced theatre classes will present an evening showcase of four 30-minute plays through the WHEN Project.

In its 11th year, the WHEN Project challenges theatre students from the district’s four traditional high schools to collaboratively write original plays and perform their finished products in a formal production – all under a time crunch.

Each year, the schools’ theatre teachers meet to establish one line of dialogue, one prop, and one incident as prompts for each student group to create an original work. This year, the teachers also selected a decade from history.

The student groups are given 5 weeks to conceptualize, create, write, rehearse, and design their production using a limited budget of $100. The culminating public performance is critiqued by area theatre professionals.

“The process forces students into strategic problem solving situations,” says Todd Weakley, theatre teacher at Hendersonville High. “We hope that this experience opens the eyes of our students to what is possible,” adds Kelly Cooper, theatre teacher at West Henderson High.

“It is a satisfying experience, reflecting the energy and diversity of the county theatre programs,” says Jasmine Hyatt, a senior at Hendersonville High. “This year our starting points were really exciting.”

This year, students’ plays will incorporate a camera (prop), deja vu (incident), “How much money you got?” (line of dialogue), and the 1950’s (decade).

Initially supported through small community grants, the WHEN Project continues through ticket sales, which are $5 for Friday’s performance. The public is invited to the ticketed showcase, taking place 6-9 p.m. in the North Henderson High auditorium.