Our annual festival of student-produced one act plays! Students will not only act but also direct, design, and tech as well. Join us for several evenings of fresh, inventive, and innovative work.

Performance Dates

October 16-18, 2025 @ 7 p.m.

October 18, 2025 @ 2 p.m. 

Rick Steiner Black Box Theater

Junior High One Acts Festival Shows

Why We Like Love Stories

By Stephen Gregg
Directed by McKenzie Bell

In the hills above Pin Cushion, California, students go to talk of the world, flirt and yearn. It’s a place where heartbreak awaits. In a La Ronde-style chain, Chloe breaks up with her boyfriend, Crooper, devastating him. Months later, Crooper ineptly attempts to use a mathematical equation to break up with Jessica—his girlfriend of seven months. She’s furious, since she’s in the middle of declaring her love for him. Months later, a calmer Jessica rebuffs Bark, who pines for her. But then things come full circle. Bark and Chloe—outsiders both—take an awkward, fumbling-for-words walk in the hills. Chloe has a secret, and Bark’s reaction to it gives them a surprising connection that, for the moment at least, promises a future. Why We Like Love Stories is a wistful comedy about the things we learn from the people we love, even once they’ve left us

Bebe Le Strange

Written and Directed by Ash Kertpet and Easton Taylor

When a gullible teenager named Charlie visits the mysterious psychic Bebe Le Strange, he is given a tarot reading that he believes will change his life. Bebe Le Strange pulls “The Magician" card from the deck and tells Charlie that he is meant to be a magician. Little does Charlie know, the psychic is a fraud and misled Charlie with a fake reading and fake spellbook. Unfortunately, Charlie takes the card to heart and performs a magic act for his friends at his birthday party, but miraculously he makes his friend Jessie disappear and can’t bring him back. 

Murder in Little Grimley

By David Tristham

Directed by Caroline Lovelace and Aubrey Lowe

Anxious to cash in on the public's appetite for detective dramas, the Chairman Gordon writes a whodunnit. But in a bizarre twist he then finds himself embroiled in a real-life murder mystery that threatens to put him behid bars. The quarrelsome quartet have been in some sticky situations over the years. But can they possibly get away with murder?

Cast List 

Thank you to all who auditioned. If your name is listed below, please either initial by your name to accept your role on the list below, or email Sherm by Tuesday, September 2 at 3:00 p.m. The first rehearsal will be Wednesday, September 3 at 3:30 p.m. If you were not cast this time, we would love to see you come out again for Matilda Jr in spring! 

        Murder In Little Grimley:

Gordon

Ellis Klump-Lawson

Margaret

Madeline Benoit

Joyce

Adina Morvay

Bernard

William Crone

Sam

Benno Gibson

Why We Like Love Stories:

     Bark

Silas Dronen

Crooper

Sasha Rucker-Chang

Jessica

Tahirih Fananapazir

Chloe

Annajane Updegrove

          Bebe Le Strange:

Bebe Le Strange

Leni Cable

Charlie

Ivy Syroney

Finley

Grayson Isenburg

Emerson

Za’ nayah Combs-Reed

Jessie/Police Officer

Tuula Hicks

Alex

Emeline Gallagher

Crew List

Thanks to everyone who came out to interview, if you were not chosen this time around, please consider signing up for our next production, Indecent. If you accept your role please initial by your name or email Sherm (shermmi@cps-k12.org) by 3:00 Tuesday, September 2. Additionally some people were placed on multiple crews or on both shows so please check the list thoroughly. First rehearsal is Tuesday 9/2 at 3:30 p.m.

Set

Niko Brenner (build)

Audrey Clark (build)

Miriam Creutz (build)

Cordelia Ellis (build)

Baxter Goodridge (build)

Mary Riordan-Gentry (build)

Kraig Ray (build)

Deck

Niko Brenner (run)

William Daly (run)

Sophie Karalambo (run)

Sydney Rosen (run)

Kraig Ray (run)

Props

Clarissa Daley-Messick (build+run)

Audrey O’Brian (build+run) 

Gretchen Pearson (build+run)

Costumes

Ezio Bloland (build+run)

Sadie Lucas (build+run)

Olivia Moore (build+run)

Frances Moothart (build+run)

Hair and Makeup

Elijah Cook (run)

Winifred Graham (build+run)

Amelia Hoops (run)

Red Kinnear (build+run)

Lydia Rostron (build+run)

Lights

Mia Kline (run and build)

Penelope Rimstidt (run)

Levi Singer (build)

Cora Tate(build)

Sound

Thomas Dance(build)

Gracie Whitehead (build and run)

Ephraim Wise (build and run)

Marketing and Publicity

Red Brock (build+run)

Elijah Cook (build+run)

Naomi Maderis (build+run)

Abbie Kershner (build+run)

Ayana Kim (build+run)

Ivy Syroney (build+run)

Production Team

Festival Stage Manager / Student Technical Director

Abbie Kershner

Stage Managers

Violet Garitson, Adelaide Linser, Aidyn Montgomery, C.C. Wise

Festival Producer

Mike Sherman

Technical Director

Joe Mitchell 

Costume Designer

Izzy Hayes

Costume Manager

Alice Carmicle

Hair and Makeup Designer

Piper Hawkins 

House Manager

Ellie Cook

Lighting Designer 

Dallon Hatton

Marketing and Publicity Manager

Adelaide Linser

Electrics Managers

Dallon Hatton and Eleanor Jackson 

Props Designer

Sebastian Garitson

Props Manager

Asher Morin

Scenic Designer / Lead Scenic Artist

Polly Wilson 

Assistant Scenic Designer

Riley Coleman 

Scenic Manager

Lily Pavelka 

Sound Designer

Molly Wermuth 

Assistant Sound Designer

Gracie Whitehead 

Sound Manager

Violet Garitson