New play to premiere this weekend

“Recent Tragic Events,” a play directed by Sean Dooley, premieres this week, Feb. 16-20.

The cast consists of five members, each of whom bring a unique element to the story set on Sept. 12, 2001.

The Minneapolis-based play combines elements of seriousness and humor.

This duality creates an interesting atmosphere, where the tragedy of 9/11 is not shied away from, but also does not define it in its entirety.

“It’s about a blind date. It just so happens that it’s on Sept. 12,” director Sean Dooley said.

The connection to NYC comes from main character Waverly, whose twin sister has been attending school in New York.

Because all of the cast was either born after 9/11 or too young to remember it, Dooley enacted acting exercises and sent the cast members optional watching material. This gave the members a base for portraying the emotions of their characters, all of whom are obviously afflicted by the previous day’s tragedy.

Sophomore Grace Michel, who plays the Stage Manager, found the exercises helpful.

“For example, we would reflect on a time where we felt really uncertain,” she said.

This is Michel’s first college theater performance, and has been quite a big step out of her comfort zone.

She took Dooley’s acting class last semester, and decided she wanted to try something new.

“It’s been really fun,” Michel said.

Though Michel did not initially audition for the role she has, it has grown on her. As the Stage Manager, Michel’s role often breaks the fourth wall. She wears all black with a headset, and her job is to get the audience involved.

“My role gives the audience an opportunity to put fate in their hands,” she said.

Dooley said anyone can audition for the plays. In fact, three of the five cast members for “Recent Tragic Events” are not theater majors or minors.

Dooley does his best to match the character to the auditioner, and makes choices based on who he feels best represents the role.

Dooley’s favorite part of directing is seeing students meet new people and enjoy the chance to collaborate with one another.

They share the play not only with the audience but also with each other.

“Theater by its very nature is collaborative,” Dooley said. “What draws a lot of people to it is a sense of community.”

“Recent Tragic Events” stars Spencer Gerber as Ron, Grace Stevenson as Waverly, Kaiden Burmeister as Andrew, Michel as the Stage Manager and Celeste Dickson as Nancy and Joyce Carol Oates.

For anyone interested in attending, there is limited seating due to COVID, so getting tickets early is encouraged. It will take place in the Coleman Black Box Theater at CSB from Wednesday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 20.