From Script to Stage in a Single Day: OPRF’s One Acts Festival Returns April 18

At Oak Park and River Forest High School, creativity, collaboration, and courage will take center stage in a way few performances can match.

On Saturday, April 18, OPRF will host its 32nd Annual One-Acts Festival, a fast-paced, student-driven theatrical experience where everything, from first rehearsal to final bow, happens in a single day.

“This is really an event to give students an opportunity to work with one another on something they may not have had a chance to do before,” said Patt Cheney, Director of International Thespian Society Troupe #5405 and longtime leader in OPRF’s theater program.

Unlike traditional productions that rehearse for weeks, the 12-hour One Acts Festival challenges students to prepare independently, then come together for an intensive, collaborative experience.

Students audition in late March. Once cast, they receive scripts in advance and are expected to arrive fully memorized. On April 18, the day begins at 8:30 a.m. with actors and directors meeting for the first time.

From there, the process unfolds quickly, beginning with morning rehearsals and blocking, followed by midday refinement and time on stage, and culminating in an evening performance at 7 p.m.

By the end of the day, students have built a complete performance from the ground up.

“It helps them learn how to work quickly, be flexible, and collaborate with new people,” Cheney said. “That’s a skill they carry far beyond the stage.”

The festival highlights both student performers and student & staff directors, offering leadership opportunities for those involved in OPRF’s theater program and Thespian Troupe.

Student directors, often experienced participants in theater or directing coursework, lead their casts through the creative process, gaining hands-on experience in storytelling, communication, and decision-making.

“It’s about giving students the opportunity to direct and act, even if they haven’t had that chance before,” Cheney said.

Performances typically include a mix of published one-act plays and original works by students or staff, with themes ranging from humor and drama about family/friends to various relationships and social issues. Minimal sets and props keep the focus on acting and directing.

The 12-hour One-Acts Festival is the annual  I.T.S. Troupe #5405 fundraiser. Proceeds from ticket sales fund small scholarships for the Eitrheim Award for Excellence in Dramatic Arts, awarded to four graduating seniors in the theater program, recognizing their dedication and contributions.

While modest in size, these scholarships represent something larger, a celebration of student commitment to the arts and the community they help build.

What began in 1994 as a way to give more students the chance to direct and act has grown into a beloved OPRF tradition, one that continues to evolve while staying true to its purpose.

“We are quite proud of this tradition,” Cheney said. “The students put so much into one day, and it gives them an experience they’ll remember.”

The OPRF community is invited to experience this unique showcase of student talent and creativity.

I.T S. Troupe #5405 12-hour One-Acts Festival
Saturday, April 18
Performance at 7 p.m. 

General Admission $10
Oak Park and River Forest High School

Come support our Huskies and see what’s possible when preparation, passion, and collaboration come together in just one day.