“This is the best moment of my entire life,” whispered audience member Jay Giffin on Sunday, 2/13, as he stepped into the Schaberlie Theater in 41 Park Row for the closing performance of the Pace Performing Arts’ Night of Original Work (NOW). What preceded that statement was a wonderful evening of theatre and celebration. The Night of Original work showcases short plays devised by senior BA actors and directors over the past year in a collaborative environment. Seniors took their assigned short stories and created their own scripts and staging from scratch in small, collaborative ensembles rather than doing so for already existing scripts. This year, the senior class split into four ensembles, resulting in the creation of Blackbox, Uncle Jim Called, Mama Gone, and A Real Doll.

Blackbox, inspired by the short story by Jennifer Egan, was directed by Tommy Doyle and starred Kirby Denny, Lillie Radziminsky, and Hailey Schwartz. In the piece, Hailey Schwarts undergoes a recon mission for the American government, represented by Lillie Radziminsky, putting herself in harm’s way for intelligence; good thing the dangerous man she is gathering intel from (played by Kirby Denny) doesn’t see her as a threat because she is a woman. Eventually, she is found out, but the government can still collect the intel she gathered as long as they have her body like she’s a black box in an airplane. The piece examined patriotism, femininity, sexism, and American values as a whole. It had powerful imagery, usually accentuating the relationship between Hailey Schwartz, the undercover operative, and Lillie Radziminsky, the government official. Hailey Schwartz showcases powerful physical acting, as she receives cybernetic enhancements. Ethan Feil’s lighting design is sharp and simultaneously practical and effective.

Uncle Jim Called, inspired by the short story by David Rabe, was directed by Aubrie Ferris and starred Katherine Alberta, Jack Ligenza, and Jonah Lione. Katherine Alberta plays a woman tormented by the guilt of her two uncles (played by Jack Ligenza and Jonah Liones) committing suicide after she refuses to take her recently deceased mother’s place in the family touring band for the sake of her father. The piece examines family trauma, guilt, grief, and family dynamics in a dreary and discomforting world. The dialogue is witty, the characters are sharp, and the complex structure of the story reveals more and more context to add intrigue. Ethan Feils lighting perfectly sets the mood and contributes to the dreary and disturbed world of the play.

Mama Gone, inspired by the short story by Jane Yolen, was directed by David Newman and starred Sommer Campbell, Layla Izabela, and Matt Goldberg. Matt Goldberg plays a father and devout religious leader, whose wife, Sommer Campbell, dies in childbirth. The father is confronted with immense grief and gives the newborn to their other daughter, Mandy Jane. To protect the dead from turning into vampires, you are supposed to cut their arms and feet, but Mandy’s father cannot bring himself to do it; they bury her, and she rises from the dead, terrorizing the town and killing many. This changes when she gets to Mandy, however. She recognizes her love for her daughter, rescuing her soul from eternal damnation and ending her terror on the town. The story investigates motherhood, femininity, religion, and the power of love in a meaningful light, and does so through a gruesome, gritty horror story. The imagery is powerful and the use of shadows, practical body horror effects, and additional ensemble members adds to the effect. Ethan Feil’s lighting reinforces the tone perfectly, giving the world of the play the perfect horror movie feel.

A Real Doll, based on the short story by A. M. Holmes, was directed by Ethan Dixon and starred Mitchell Richman and Arielle Zaytsev, with a special appearance by Kirby Denny. Arielle Zaytsev plays Barbie, and her owner’s brother is played by Mitchell Richman. As the story progresses, we watch the brother become sexually curious about Barbie, and she becomes his “first girlfriend.” Barbie is disgusted/damaged by this treatment, but it also gives her a purpose when her owner isn’t playing with her. Quickly the brother begins experimenting with other ways to pleasure himself, and he realizes that he enjoys Ken more than Barbie. This leaves Barbie feeling empty, and after she becomes damaged, the brother can’t even stand to look at her, leaving her completely alone. The story powerfully explores femininity in modern-day society, sexual standards, and the human desire to be seen. The piece utilizes audience interaction to further the meaning of the story in a powerful way, and the performances are very impressive. Arielle Zaytsev showcases impressive physical acting, as she effectively embodies the plastic body of a barbie doll.

In conclusion, the NOW Festival was a culmination of a lot of time, energy, and effort from a lot of students and faculty, and the end result is a series of four incredible devised pieces that showcase the skills of the graduating senior BA Actors and BA Directors. Everyone involved should be proud of what they accomplished. You can ask any audience member; it was a joy to watch.