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.
October 16-18, 2025 @ 7 p.m.
October 18, 2025 @ 2 p.m.
Rick Steiner Black Box Theater
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?
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!
Gordon
Ellis Klump-Lawson
Margaret
Madeline Benoit
Joyce
Adina Morvay
Bernard
William Crone
Sam
Benno Gibson
Bark
Silas Dronen
Crooper
Sasha Rucker-Chang
Jessica
Tahirih Fananapazir
Chloe
Annajane Updegrove
Bebe Le Strange
Leni Cable
Charlie
Ivy Syroney
Finley
Grayson Isenburg
Emerson
Za’ nayah Combs-Reed
Jessie/Police Officer
Tuula Hicks
Alex
Emeline Gallagher
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)
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