Hersey winter play offers experimental theater experience

For Hersey High School's winter play, students perform 30 plays chosen by the audience in 60 minutes.

"30 NeoFuturist Plays from Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes)" closes with a performance at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, after a three-day run in the school's Black Box Theater, 1800 E. Thomas St. in Arlington Heights.

"This is unlike any other theater production I've ever been in," said senior Nate Horne, one of the show's actors. "It's so crazy and spontaneous and absurd, and I'm really excited to show this to a crowd."

Founded by Greg Allen, the show is a creation of the Neo-Futurism movement, in which the characters are simply the actors and the stage is a continuation of daily life. Audience members choose which plays they would like to see and the actors race against the timer to perform them.

Due to the unpredictability of the show, every single member of the production has been working hard to imagine every possible situation.

"We've been working a lot in the lights because it's hard to program everything. There's no set order of cues. They come and go as the audience picks. We're never prepared," said sophomore tech crew member Lily Muller.

"The organic nature of the show is only going to happen in that moment. The cool part of is that the audience is almost a part of the show," Director Laura Becker said. "There is this beautiful give and take from the audience and the actors."

Tickets are $7 and will be sold before each show.

Elk Grove one acts

Meanwhile, students at Elk Grove High School are providing an evening of comic relief featuring four student-directed One Acts and the speech team's Performance-in-the-Round piece, "Pride and Prejudice ... Zombies."

The final performance is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Elk Grove High School Theater, 500 W. Elk Grove Blvd. in Elk Grove Village.

Tickets are $5, $3 for students and seniors, and will be available for purchase at the door.