One Act Play Festival

For tickets, visit https://hendersonvilletheatre.org/one-act-play-festival/ or call 828-692-1082.

Show A: Friday, 8/23 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, 8/24 at 3 pm

Show B: Saturday, 8/24 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, 8/25 at 3 pm

Show A

Backyard Stonehenge by Jacquelyn Priskorn

TJ and Kendra are grappling with tension in their relationship. TJ attempts to surprise Kendra by creating a Stonehenge-like structure in their backyard using stones borrowed from their neighbor. As they confront their strained relationship, guilt, and disappointment, will they ultimately find solace in working together to complete the stone circle?

Catatonia…or, Waiting for Gato by Matt Wade

"Waiting for Godot” but with cats! Two cats, Crash and Ace, ponder the meaning of life and their absurd situation. This quirky comedy is filled with cat puns, existential musings, a surprising time-traveling twist, and the existential themes of waiting and uncertainty.

Tree #2 by R.A. Pauli

Charlie, an overly enthusiastic actor in a community theater production, obsessively interrogates the director about the character’s motivation, much to the director’s exasperation. The play is a witty take on the absurdity of taking a minor role too seriously.

A Sign You Were Alive by Rebecca Kane

Set in a suburban home during a mysterious pandemic, James tries to care for his sick daughter, Chelsea, by providing unconventional nourishment and protecting her from the outside world. The play delves into themes of love, fear, and the struggle to maintain normalcy in the face of the extraordinary.

Show B

I’d Rather Die Than Go Back To Christmastown by Abby Auman

Filled with sharp humor, this satire takes a playful jab at the clichés of holiday romances, making it an audience favorite. A high-powered businesswoman fears falling into the typical holiday movie trope of abandoning her career for love in a small town. Her assistant helps her devise a plan to avoid this fate by becoming the “villain” of her own story.

Riding Lessons by Brett Hursey

Meet Clark, who is accompanied by an imaginary clown that only a few can see. Meet Edie, a woman with her own challenges. Through Clark and Edie’s conversation, this humorous and heartfelt play explores loneliness, mental health, and finding acceptance in one’s quirks.

Thanks for the Mammaries by Bailey Jordan Garcia

A poignant comedy that explores themes of gender identity, body dysphoria, and the journey toward self-acceptance. Despite the humorous tone, the play tackles serious issues, ending on a note of mutual understanding and a farewell to a past self and a new life.

My Name is Jane by Phil Darg

This drama follows Jane, a woman in her late 30s who desperately wants to become a mother. Hoping to become a social media influencer, she documents her journey through infertility treatments and pregnancy. The play delves into the emotional and legal challenges she faces, especially in light of the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. As Jane navigates her path to pregnancy, the play explores themes of personal struggle, societal expectations, and the impact of shifting legal landscapes.

Hendersonville Theatre’s One Act Play Festival presents plays by established and emerging writers. Divided into two shows, Sections A and B are a multiple series of short plays, performed in rotation. One-act plays provide a condensed yet impactful theatrical experience, allowing for concise and focused storytelling that can captivate the audience’s attention from start to finish. This format often demands precision and intensity from the performers, leading to powerful performances that resonate deeply with viewers.

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours

Host or Publisher Hendersonville Theatre