Audience-driven theater: Buffalo Grove students to race through 30 plays in one hour

On Nov. 19-20, the Bison Grove Theatre Company of Buffalo Grove High School is putting on the Chicago classic, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes)” by Greg Allen.

The production promises to be a night of high-stakes theatrical adrenaline, daring the ensemble to conquer 30 original plays in 60 frantic minutes — all in an order dictated entirely by the audience.

The premise is simple, frantic, and wildly fun: the cast races against a running 60-minute countdown clock to perform 30 completely original, bite-sized plays. There is no set script order — every performance is an unpredictable, interactive thrill ride where the audience literally screams out numbers from a clothesline menu to dictate what happens next. From hilarious sketch-comedy bursts and physical chaos to inventive, thought-provoking micro-dramas, it’s a fast, irreverent, and unforgettable blast of ensemble theater that will keep everyone on the edge of their seats from second one to the final buzzer!

Performances will be 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 19-20, in the Miller Theatre at Buffalo Grove High School, 1100 W. Dundee Road.

Each show is brought to life by the talented actors of Buffalo Grove High School, including Vishnu Adiga Gia Alexakis, Riya Bhatt, Lexi Campos, Will Citron, Greg Cruz, Paige Dasgupta, Aliyana Denham, Isaac Douglas, Anna Dyda, Geetika Esarapu, Rachel Ferber, Dylan Glazer, Essence Golden, Carly Goldstein, Lizzie Gonzalez, Ethan Lebron, Sam Lindenberg-Sullivan, Aaron Martinez, Sebastian Medina, Hailey Moeller, Alice Nevtonenko, Lily O’Malley, Ender Puent, Atzin Ramirez, Zak Serrano, Elly Williams, and Katie Yarbrough.

The production is directed by Bison Grove Theatre directors Lauren Stenzel and Beth Wells alongside student directors Riya Bhatt and Nina Carter. Technical director Ed Conkle, along with audio director William Franz, leads the backstage team, including stage manager Payton Hyde and assistant stage manager Brooklyn Smith, supported by crew members: Oliver Bolaños, Sebastian Bolaños, Zoe Calderaro, Degan Conroy, Leo Hernandez, Payton Hyde, Trevor Moodhe, Vasiliki Sampalis, Arjun Sharma, Brooklyn Smith, Zechariah Smith, Margaux Smith, Levi Smith, and Jethro Woodard.

The costume crew, under the direction of Debbie Andres, features student costume chief Cassie Bustos and makeup chief Lily O’Malley, along with costume and makeup crew members Paige Dasgupta, Rachel Ferber, Jairy Guzman, Ashlyn Haack, and Jaima Siddiqua. Debbie Jacks provides house management.

“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes)” by Greg Allen is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Playscripts.

Tickets are $10, available online at d214.org/o/bghs/ or at the door. Online tickets for any of the shows include a service charge and may be purchased at GoFan.co. All District 214 students can get a free ticket at the door by presenting their current 2026-27 D214 student ID. All seating is general admission. The box office opens 60 minutes before curtain time. Cash, checks and credit/debit cards are accepted at the door. For information, call house manager Debbie Jacks at 847-718-4011.