Written by Jay An, Contributing Writer
The sounds of posters and props being prepared can be heard by those in the crowd who wait in anticipation. Tonight, Saint Leo University’s theatre program is eagerly awaiting the debut of three shows of the night: “Kore,” “Mafiosos,” and “The Bible Summarize.”
The shows were written by two students, Zach McElwain and Jacob Schmidt, who are graduating this spring. The original name for the show “Menagerie” was “Bits,” but Schmidt was not sure the name would fit well.
“I threw out the word menagerie, and menagerie is basically a bunch of assorted objects,” Schmidt explains. “It’s kind of like a zoo of different creatures and animals and all that,” Schmidt continued.
Schmidt wrote his play, “Kore,” inspired by an interest in Greek mythology, especially the story of Hades and Persephone.
“For a while, I wanted to write a play about it, and that’s pretty much it,” Schmidt stated.
However, while writing, Schmidt discovered that Hades and Persephone had a daughter, Melinoe, and decided to have that aspect in “Kore.”
Schmidt did not end up directing his plays; instead, he placed the responsibility in the hands of McElwain, the other half of this playwriting duty.
(Photo was taken by Jay An)
“It’s nerve-wracking because this is the first time I’ve ever had something I’ve written be performed in front of an audience,” Schmidt said.
Once the plays ended, Schmidt could not help but share his delight.
“I kept hearing laughs throughout Zack’s plays, and they were well deserved, they were amazing, and hearing people clap at the end of mine was just life affirming,” exclaimed Schmidt.
The three plays in the Saint Leo theatre department filled the Black Box with laughter and entertainment. As for the cast and crew, they have worked hard to give the audience a good laugh for the last time as seniors and will go ahead to the next level in life with the new generation of theatre students to take their place.
