Young directors bring the ‘action’

Published 9:38 am Thursday, February 23, 2017

A pair of teen directors is calling the shots in “Ten/Two” this weekend at The Haven.

Performances will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. There will be a $10 admission charge.

The play includes 10 monologues with two actors in each scene.

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The Young Director’s Project, started by Brookhaven Little Theatre actor James Minter last year, allows students 12-18 to take the reins as directors of a play.

Brookhaven High School junior Jack Lowery and Lawrence County High School junior Ryan Huffstutler are in charge in the Brookhaven Little Theatre project. Gracie Gray and MaryRhea Waterloo were the first directors in the project last year.

Lowery and Huffstutler have worked with BLT before.

“These two guys have done stuff with us in the past,” said mentoring director Tommy Sproles. “The board makes the decision based on the submitted interest applications.”

Sproles’ role is to oversee the directors and make sure that everyone is safe during the rehearsals. He also handles the technical direction during the play.

Sproles said this year’s project has been underway about a month, which is shorter than usual. “All the kids remembered their lines quickly,” he said.

The purpose of doing the play was to give every cast member at least 10 minutes of stage time. “They actually have lines,” Sproles said. “Everyone involved had a good portion of at least three pages to learn.”

“It’s just something that we’re trying to meet a need for for these tweens,” he said. “We have to invest in our young ones because one day we’re not going to be here. We’re creating future BLT members with this.”

Sproles said the students all seem to enjoy working on the production.

“We keep getting repeat business from the students. One day, they’ll be cleaning the toilets and running the show just like we are doing now,” he said. “Then, we can come in enjoy watching them.”

Applications are available for the next Young Director’s Project at www.haventheatre.org.