MSHS presents two one-act plays

Muscle Shoals High School's theater department will present two shows in the round - "Carl Sandburg's American People" and "Hello Out There."

Shows will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, in the school auditorium.

According to director David Hope, the productions will be performed in the round with the audience seated on the stage.

Seating is limited.

"We have done theater in the round a couple of times, and our audiences just love it," he said. "It is a very intimate setting with people seated just a few feet from the performers. It really makes for a great theater experience."

Hope said the double bill consists of two one-act shows. One is primarily humorous and the second is moving and touching.

"Carl Sandburg's American People" is a fast-paced, ever-changing look at ourselves presented through the words of a poet. Told primarily through laughter, Hope said it gives us a focused snapshot of that group of people we call Americans.

"Sandburg was an absolutely wonderful philosopher," Hope said. "Most of us, however, do not realize that he also was a collector of jokes and humorous writings.

"This show is different in that the performers are required to play not one character, but a variety of the types of people we all know. By the time the constantly changing show is over, Sandburg has given us a great opportunity to laugh at ourselves and do a little serious thinking about exactly who we are as individuals and as people."

The cast for "American People" includes Alli Self, Kristen Dunn, Payton Ayers, Cayla Schafer, Gabriel Flemming, Katori Mobley, Asia Duren, Chelsea Yarber, Cody Hawkins, J.P. Alexander, Brooke Gronemeyer and Blake Posey.

"Hello Out There" is a classic show that most always appears in collections of best one-act plays.

Written in 1941 by William Saroyan, it was the curtain-raiser for playwright George Bernard Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple."

It tells the story of a down on his luck, itinerant gambler who is arrested and jailed in a small town and charged with rape.

The charge is a lie, but the only one who believes him is a lonely young girl who cooks for the jail. The two form a relationship and find brief joy and hope in what each one can do for the other.

"This is a moving and beautiful show that clearly shows us just how lonely our human existence can be at times," Hope said. "Both of these characters are desperately crying 'Hello Out There' for someone to love and, who in turn, will love them."

Cast member for "Hello Out There" include Blake Posey, Brooke Gronemeyer, Cody Hawkins, J.P. Alexander and Kristen Dunn.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and will be available at the door.