Talent, Creativity on Display with One Acts

University School of Milwaukee Upper School thespians presented “One Acts” in May. The event resembles a performance art exhibition where students present a variety of pieces, including comedy, poetry, short theatrical scenes, and more. The pieces are directed by, and star, Upper School students.

“These are a very student-centered performances,” said Mark Edwards, Upper School drama teacher. “The pieces are more experimental and spontaneous than a typical play or musical. They are spontaneous, abstract, and a lot of fun.”

The event was free and open to the public, and took place in the Virginia Henes Young Theatre.

Students directed, and/or performed in, the following:

The Philadelphia by David Ives
Lina Singh ’26, Tajah Goodman ’24, Reiley Fitzsimmons ’26
 
Helium Crisis by the Neo-futurists
Gurleen Ahuja ’26, Abbey Norman ’26, Coco Raube Van-Bekkum ’24, Amelia Otjen ’25
 
Go Back to the Telephone Booth Clark Kent… by the Neo-futurists
Abbey Norman ’26, Gurleen Ahuja ’26, Amelia Otjen ’25
 
Phantom of the Opera
Sung by Laya Sumithra ’25 
 
La Seine
Sung by Kat Slocum ’24, Neema Mollel ’24, guitar by Natalie Gapinski ’24
 
13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview (Scene 3)
Laya Sumithra ’25, Nina Goldberg ’26, Gi Gi Cooks ’26
 
13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview (Scene 6)
Hope Piper ’26, Grace Piper ’26
 
13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview (Scene 7)
Nora Miller ’26, Katelyn Jost ’26
 
Trope On a Rope by Mark Edwards
Riley Filla ’23, Amelia Otjen ’25, Tatiana Marich ’25
 
‘What Would I Do’ from Falsettos  
Sung by Ethan Robledo-Perez ’24

It's All Been Said and Done by the Neo-futurists
Katelyn Jost ’26, Nora Miller ’26

Move On from Sunday in the Park With George
Marko Gajic ’23, Katie Frick ’23

Forced Marriage (scene 1) by Moliere
Reiley Fitzsimmons ’26, Mr. Edwards 

Poetry
Natalie Gapinski ’24, Gi Gi Cooks ’26

Underpants (scene 1) by Steve Martin
Coco Raube Van-Bekkum ’24,  Conner Dawson ’24

Almost There from The Princess and the Frog
Gi Gi Cooks ’26

Variations on the Death of Trotsky by David Ives
Marko Gajic ’23, Jackson LaManna ’23, Katie Frick ’23

Special thanks to: 
Ellen Shuler, Middle School and Upper School music teacher; Joshua Miller, theatre technical director; Katie Gonring, Middle School drama teacher; Carrie Keyse, Ben Norman ’26, Charlie Tiefenbrun ’26, Gurleen Ahuja ’26, and Ian Birchall ’23.